Perhaps emboldened by the rebellion of Aaron and Miriam against Moses, Korah assembled a group of his associates and attempted to incite a revolt. The foundation of his uprising lay in the numerous laws being delivered to the people to set them apart as holy. However, Korah and his followers believed themselves already holy and righteous solely by virtue of being chosen by God. They viewed their special status as sufficient and saw no need for continuous repentance and loathed Aaron and Moses for elevating themselves above others.
Korah, a descendant of Levi through Kohath and Izhar, held the status of a Levite but had not been granted priestly authority. Dissatisfied with his role, he aligned himself with prominent Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, along with On, son of Peleth. United in their dissent, they initiated a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Accompanying them were 250 Israelite men—distinguished community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. Given the scale of this uprising, the decision to appoint such leaders appears to reflect Jethro’s counsel to Moses more than a direct command from God. This insurrection ultimately challenged the divinely ordained structure of leadership among the Israelites.
The Challenge
They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” – Numbers 16:3 (NIV)
The basis of the complaint seems to stem from a sense of rebellion and disobedience among the people. This discontent appears to be influenced by the earlier revolt by Aaron and Miriam, which set a precedent for challenging authority. The people, not being in an obedient mood, are likely reacting out of ego, perhaps seeking to assert their own desires and autonomy rather than adhering to the laws set before them.
The offerings prescribed for both intentional and unintentional sins were not well received and came to be regarded as an unnecessarily tedious burden by the people. The tassels on the edge of their garments, which would serve as a visual reminder of God’s commandments, were not seen as a symbol of their faithfulness but rather as a burden—like a noose around their necks—restricting their actions and making them feel constrained.
This mindset was not one of novelty and it would persist throughout their history, ultimately leading them to reject the Messiah who stood in their midst. Tragically, this delusion regarding one’s inherent holiness is transmissible and continues to manifest in modern believers—those who presume they don’t lack anything simply because they have been chosen by God to proclaim His word.
The Response
When Moses heard their complaint, he fell facedown—likely as an act of humility, probably not the same expression of reverence he shows when he bows before God. He then got up and rebuked them, reminding them that as Levites, they had already been chosen to serve at the tabernacle and minister to the community. He questioned why that calling was no longer sufficient for them, pointing out that they were now grasping for the priesthood as well. Even today, divisions within the church often arise from disputes over whose leadership is recognized by the majority. Congregations are fractured over various issues, many of which serve only to distract from what is truly needed, sitting at the feet of the Master and learning from Him.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:41–42 (NIV)
Moses told Korah and his followers that the LORD would reveal the next morning who truly belonged to Him and who was set apart as holy. He instructed them to take censers, fill them with burning coals and incense, and present them before the LORD. The one whom God chooses would be confirmed as holy. Moses ended with a sharp rebuke, telling the Levites they had gone too far in their challenge.
Inhibited by God
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come! Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us! – Numbers 16:12-13 (NIV)
When Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, they flatly refused to come. They accused him of taking them out of a land they called “flowing with milk and honey”—referring to Egypt, the very place of their slavery—and leading them into the wilderness to die. They claimed he was trying to rule over them and treat them like slaves.
Once again, they longed for Egypt, revealing that their hearts were still tied to the place God had delivered them from. Their true “hometown” seemed to be Egypt, not the land God had promised. They would rather live under the bondage of earthly kings than submit to God’s will that sets us free. Even after being freed from the actual bondage, they saw following God as a kind of slavery.
This reflects a common struggle—seeing God’s path as restrictive, while forgetting the true cost of worldly life. Though God was leading them through Moses, they felt oppressed, not realizing that their rebellion was not against Moses, but against the One who sent him. Similarly, the Son died on the cross and has set us free indeed. Free from a life of slavery to sin, free from the ways of this world. Yet we keep desiring the world and its ways rather than coming to God. Our every inclination is towards fulfilling our own desires and turning to the world as that does not seem inhibiting to us. We only reach out to God when we are caught deep in sin and in our problems and can’t find a way out.
A Sign from God
Moses instructed Korah and his 250 followers, along with Aaron, to appear before the LORD with their censers filled with incense. As they gathered at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared. God told Moses and Aaron to separate from the assembly so He could destroy them, but they pleaded for mercy on behalf of the people.
God then commanded the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses warned them not to touch anything belonging to these men or risk being swept away in their sin. As the people moved back, Moses declared that if the rebels died a natural death, then God had not sent him—but if the earth opened and swallowed them, it would be proof they had shown contempt for the LORD.
As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. – Numbers 16:31-32 (NIV)
The earth opened up and swallowed them, along with their families, everyone connected to Korah, and all their belongings. They descended alive into the realm of the dead, and the ground closed over them, cutting them off completely from the community. Terrified by their cries, the surrounding Israelites fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!” Then fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who had been offering incense.
One would think that the supernatural way that Korah and his followers died would serve as a clear warning to the Israelites, urging them to prepare themselves and refrain from further acts of rebellion. Yet, the cycle of insurrection recurred the very next day when the entire Israelite community confronted Moses and Aaron, accusing them of having slain the LORD’s chosen people. They faced the consequences of their umpteenth defiance, as a plague resulted in the deaths of an additional 14,700 individuals that day.
Discussion Questions
- What was the foundation of the complaint raised by Korah and his followers?
- Why are churches today experiencing similar issues of insurrection?
- How frequently do we perceive that living a life devoted to God equates to one of limitation and even bondage?
Map
The Jordan Valley 
Reply