5 Lessons from a Rebellion

Read Numbers 15-16.

In chapter 15, God gave the Israelites a few more instructions to prepare them and to remind them of what He had said.  This included giving an offering of gratitude, the seriousness of breaking His laws, and even sewing reminders on their clothing.

Despite everything that they had seen and heard, Korah and his clan decided to amass a frontal attack on the spiritual leadership of Moses and Aaron.  We have seen such a challenge before, but this one includes 250 "chiefs of the congregation."  Their accusation in 16:3 centers on their belief that the entire nation is just fine spiritually and that these two leaders had exalted themselves as holier than everyone else.  The truth was these chiefs were rebellious and filled with sinful jealousy. 

Notice the responses of Moses.  He did not defend himself. 

1. He first fell on his face. (16:4)   

2. He entrusted the outcome to God.

3. God gave Moses direction on what to do.

In his message to them, Moses, reminded these men that God had separated them out from the nation as Levites, He had allowed them to serve Him in the tabernacle and to be near the presence of the LORD in ministering to and for the people.  His question to them was "Is it too small a thing for you?"  In other words, "Did not this special place God gave you mean anything to you?"

The challenge was not resolved quickly.  Some would not even come to a meeting with Moses.  God again expressed in anger His willingness to destroy the entire nation.  And, again, Moses interceded for the congregation.  It cost Korah and his entire family their lives and everything that belonged to them.  The 250 rebellious men also lost their lives.  Their sin was not against Moses and Aaron, but 16:30b states "these men have despised the LORD."

Just when you would think the issue had been resolved, it was not.  "But the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled..." (16:41) They blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of their friends.  Now the entire congregation was angry with them.  God sent a plague and 14,700 more died.  Once more, Moses interceded for the nation to stop the plague.  What a powerful description of a godly leader in 16:48- "and he stood between the dead and the living."

Lessons from the rebellion:

1. Whenever a decision is made, expect it to be tested.    Good leaders discuss and prepare for the test as best they can.  Even then they can be blindsided.

2. Some people never learn.  They go through life ignoring the grace of God and His claim on their lives, making the same foolish decisions over and over again.

3. God is deadly serious about obedience.  Some have ignored the fact that this is still true.  Because the ground did not open up to kill them when they disobeyed, they may feel they got away with sin.  They did not.  Without repentance, God will deal with them in His time.

4. There are no small jobs in serving the LORD.  There is a place for everyone to be used of God.  He will provide opportunities to serve Him.  It is our pride that desires the bigger or better spot.  We need to be careful to humbly serve where He puts us.

5. The most powerful activity of any leader is intercessory prayer.  We have seen this over and over in the life of Moses.  "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."  (James 5:16b)