22 October Numbers 16

The Consequences of Rebellion

Numbers 16:1-3 (AMP) Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, took action, and they rose up [in rebellion] before Moses, together with some of the Israelites, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation chosen in the assembly, men of distinction. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”.

The worship leader Korah and two others didn't learn from Israel's past mistakes. They teamed up to go against Moses. Korah, along with Dathan, Abiram, and on from the tribe of Reuben, took action against Moses. Later, Dathan and Abiram refused to come when Moses called for them. Korah's rebellion caused trouble among the people. First, 250 leaders joined the rebellion. Then, after those leaders died, 14,700 more people also rebelled.

God commands us to follow the leaders He has chosen. To do this, we first need to submit to God through His Holy Spirit. Romans 8:13-14 (AMP) “for if you are living according to the [impulses of the] flesh, you are going to die. But if [you are living] by the [power of the Holy] Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deeds of the body, you will [really] live forever. 14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God”. Again the author of Hebrews posits obedience in Hebrews 13:17 (AMP) “Obey your [spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be of no benefit to you”.

Satan’s goal has always been to break down authority through rebellion. His goal is to create chaos and misery. His first rebellion led a third of the angels against God. He then led Eve to rebel against God’s rules. He then led Adam and Eve to rebel against each other. Not obeying God and not submitting to authority will separate you from God, as seen in:.

1 Samuel 12:15 (AMP) “But if you do not listen to the Lord’s voice, but rebel against His command, then the hand of the Lord will be against you [to punish you], as it was against your fathers”.

Psalm 107:11-12 (AMP) “Because they had rebelled against the precepts of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with hard labour; They stumbled and there was no one to help”.

Psalm 68:6 (NLT) “God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Nehemiah 9:26-27 (NLT) “But despite all this, they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They turned their backs on your Law, they killed your prophets who warned them to return to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies. So you handed them over to their enemies, who made them suffer. But in their time of trouble they cried to you, and you heard them from heaven. In your great mercy, you sent them liberators who rescued them from their enemies”.

In conclusion, the story of Korah’s rebellion in Numbers 16 is a powerful reminder of the dangers of resisting God’s authority and the consequences of rebellion. Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers failed to submit to the leadership that God had appointed, and as a result, they faced severe judgment. Their rebellion did not just affect themselves but also led to the downfall of many others.

God’s Word consistently teaches the importance of submitting to His will and respecting the leaders He has placed over us. Whether in spiritual, social, or family settings, God establishes authority for order, guidance, and protection. When we reject His authority or the authority of those He has appointed, we open the door to chaos, division, and, ultimately, separation from God.

Scripture warns us that rebellion has always been a tool of Satan to disrupt God's plan and bring misery to humanity. From Lucifer's fall to Adam and Eve's temptation, rebellion leads to brokenness and suffering. Yet, God's mercy is available to those who return to Him. As we see in Nehemiah 9:26-27, God is willing to hear the cries of those who repent and offer deliverance in times of trouble even after the rebellion.

Therefore, let us guard our hearts against rebellion, allowing the Holy Spirit to obey us. By submitting to God's authority and the leaders He has set before us, we live in alignment with His will and experience His peace, guidance, and blessing. Rebellion may lead to destruction, but submission to God's appointed leadership brings life and peace.