Rebellion in the Camp

“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)

In chapter 16, we see a group within the congregation of the children of Israel who were rebelling against the God ordained leadership. 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 the verse above, 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. 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 Korah and his bunch.

We see this same type of behavior today in our local churches. God puts in place a leader for the congregation, but there will always be some Korah’s within the congregation who will attempt to gain control. The process usually begins with murmuring and complaining about the job that the pastor is doing. They will often grab the ears of other disgruntled people and try to bring them in with him. Before you know it, there is a group of people within the congregation who are gaining power, working against what the pastor 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 Korah; but when he leaves, he usually pulls a bunch of people out with him.

Why can’t we just trust the leadership system that God has set up. He calls a man to a ministry. That calling is then confirmed by a vote by the congregation. The congregation still has the power to remove the man if there are serious enough issues in his ministry. But unless there is something immoral, heretical, or seriously unethical, the congregation should rally behind the pastor, and work with him as he leads the congregation in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Don’t be a Korah. Support your pastor, and the other leaders that God has placed in your life. Work with him. Help him as he tries to win souls and train the converts. Pray for him and his family. Love him.

By the way, the picture above is of a sinkhole tha swallowed up a good chunk of a neighborhood. I wonder if a Korah lived there.