“They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?’”

Numbers 16:3 (NKJV)

It is interesting that the section of Scripture we cover today begins with God telling the people to make blue tassels for the corners of their garments. These were to remind them to keep His commandments and to “not follow the harlotry” to which their own heart and eyes were inclined. But in the very next section we see a group of them leading a rebellion against the LORD and against Moses.

Korah was a Levite who had been assigned the task of helping the priests serve in the tabernacle. He was also a relative of Moses and Aaron. He gathered around himself a posse from the tribe of Reuben. They revolted against Moses and Aaron along with 250 of the renowned leaders of the congregation.

In saying that Moses and Aaron took too much upon themselves and that all the congregation was holy, they were rebelling against God’s appointed leadership. Clearly, Moses and Aaron did not take their roles upon themselves. God called and appointed them. They were not exalting themselves above the congregation. They merely obeyed the LORD.

At the core of this rebellion was jealousy. Korah wanted Moses and Aaron’s job! Korah had already been given the privilege of serving before the LORD in the tabernacle, but that wasn’t good enough. Korah wanted the priesthood as well. He felt entitled and thought that Moses and Aaron were nothing special.

So, how did Moses handle it? He didn’t try to defend himself. Rather, he fell on his face before the LORD and let God be his defense. He allowed Korah and company to act on their ambitions to have the priesthood by offering incense the next day. But Moses also rebuked them for taking too much upon themselves.

When God blesses you, the people closest to you may become jealous and challenge you. That is hard to take, but it happens. How will you handle it?

Thanks for reading. I’m glad you’re here. 😊

Photo by Amine M’siouri