We read the story of Korah this week. Last week we read about The 12 spies and the bad report. 10 men caused an entire generation their Promise. Shortly after the failure of the 10 spies we have Korah’s rise. Korah is from the Kohathite Clan the same Clan as Moses and Aaron. Korah is Moses’s and Aaron’s cousin. Moses’s and Aaron’s father was Amram. Korah’s father was Izhar. Amram and Izhar were sons of Kohath whose father was Levi. So we have a internal immediate family issue the blows up into an extended family issue.
Levi had 3 sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Each of these son’s clans were given specific jobs in the Tabernacle. The Gershon and Merari clans were given carts to and oxen to make their job easy related to the Tabernacle. The Kohath clan were not given any carts or oxen. They had to carry the holy furniture by hand. They couldn’t look at it or touch it, if it wasn’t covered up or they would die. Then to top the hardship off God has Moses promote Eleazar Aaron’s Son to the leader of all the Levites. Korah becomes offended that someone younger than him and not from his direct family is promoted to leader of all of the Levites.
Korah starts complaining that the entire congregation is holy not just Moses and Aaron. What Korah is saying is true. The problem is his motivation. Korah’s words turns the tribe of Rueben against Moses and Aaron. 250 men who were great leaders rose up against Moses and Aaron. Moses tries to give Korah and his followers a way out. He tells them to get fire pans and burn incense before the Lord tomorrow. According to Jewish tradition Korah and his followers covered themselves in the same blue fabric the Holy Items were covered in. The Lord comes down and chooses Moses and Aaron. Moses then tells everyone to move away from Korah and his followers. The ground then opens and swallows them and their tents and their families. Here is what is interesting the word used to cover up the Holy Items means to swallow up. Since Korah felt he was Holy and dressed himself as if he was a Holy Item God treated him as such. God opened the Earth and swallowed Korah. He was swallowed up and not seen anymore. Be careful of what you seek or ask for.
The next day the people are still complaining and the Lord sends a plague and 14,700 people die. Even after Korah is no more his words and influence are affecting the people. After last week and this week we learn to be mindful of who you listen too. Even though Korah told the truth everyone is holy he used it to his advantage. Who in your life or realm of influence is only telling you the truth or a partial truth. Why are they not telling you everything?
