Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Feb 21st Korah’s Rebellion: When Discontent Destroys the Church

Listen to today’s passage – Numbers 16 – 18 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Numbers 16 

Second Milers also read – Acts 22 – 24; Proverbs 21; Psalms 106 – 110

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 121

Read the “0221 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today by Charles Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Standing Between the Living and the Dead,” and “A Tithe of a Tithe”

“Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?” – (Numbers 16:9)

“And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.” – (Numbers 16:31-33)

In chapter 16, we see a group within the congregation of the children of Israel who were rebelling against the God-ordained leadership of Moses. One of the leaders of this insurrection was Korah, who was a Kohathite. The Kohathites were part of the tribe of Levi, but their specific responsibility involved transporting the ark and the other pieces of furniture and instruments that were used in the service of the Tabernacle. They were not priests, but they were servants for the Lord in the Tabernacle.

In verse 9, Moses rebukes Korah for not being content with the job that the Lord had given him. Korah wanted more. He wanted to grab some of the glory that he saw Moses and Aaron getting. It reminds us of Lucifer, who was not content guarding the holiness of God. He wanted more too; he wanted to be like the “most High” (see Isaiah 14:12-14). This rebellion resulted in the death of Korah, along with the other men involved and their families. Further, many more people from the congregation perished the next day after they complained about the death of Korah.

You would think that Moses would have been very happy that God was removing all these “nelly naysayers” from the congregation. However, in Numbers 16:41-50, we see him interceding to God for these folks. Verse 48 tells us that Moses “stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.” A true spiritual leader will have a broken heart for the people within his congregation that are rebelling against his leadership.

We see this same type of behavior today in our local churches. God puts in place leadership for the congregation, but there will always be some Korahs within the congregation who will become disgruntled and some will even attempt to gain control. The process usually begins with murmuring and complaining about the job that the pastor and other leaders are doing. They will often grab the ears of other disgruntled people and try to bring them in with them. Before you know it, there is a group of people within the congregation who are gaining power, working against what the leadership is trying to do. It won’t be long before it comes to a head. Somebody will have to go. Sometimes it’s the pastor. Sometimes it will be the Korahs of the congregation; but when he leaves, he usually pulls a bunch of people out with him.

While legitimate concerns should be raised respectfully and through proper channels, chronic murmuring that undermines God’s appointed leadership often reveals a heart issue.

God has set up the leadership structure in our churches today and we can usually trust the process. He calls a man to a ministry. That calling is then confirmed by a vote of the congregation. The congregation still has the power to remove the pastor and other leaders if there are serious enough issues. But usually, unless there is something immoral, heretical, or seriously unethical, the congregation should rally behind the pastor and leaders, pray for them, and work with them as they lead the congregation in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

At Jersey Shore Baptist Church, the senior pastor and deacons are voted on by the congregation. All other leaders are appointed or at least approved by the senior pastor. Other churches may have elders or assistant pastors that are voted on by the congregation. Ultimately, the congregation and God have the final authority.

Don’t be a Korah. Support your pastor and the other leaders that God has placed within your church. Work with them. Help them as they try to win souls and disciple new converts. Pray for them and their families. Love them by making sure their needs are met. You may not appreciate or agree with every decision they make, and you may have some concerns about the ministry direction they are going, but you can still be patient and offer your support for their leadership. And, in the case that you absolutely cannot cheerfully support the leadership within your church, find a church where you can, but carefully and prayerfully consider also that the problem may very well be you.

Notice the three admonitions given in the Letter to the Hebrews regarding spiritual leadership:

“7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. … 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. … 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.” (Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24)

A Note to Pastors and Spiritual Leaders

An additional note should be made here regarding leadership. Moses was not a dictator. He was the appointed representative of God who directed him personally – face to face. Leaders today are not dictators either. They are appointed to follow the principles of Scriptures and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They are to be servant leaders who model what they are directing their congregations to do. Peter summed up spiritual leadership. He stated:

“1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Pet 5:1–4)

Paul also gave qualifications for leadership in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and he expressed his heart regarding leadership when addressing the elders from Ephesus:

“28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20:28–29)