This week we read the story of Koran’s rebellion. After last week’s reading we learned everything changed in the Wilderness. After the sin of the spies God told Israel no one over the age of 20 is going to enter the Promised Land. The Israelites thought they would go and attack the Amalekites, however God was not with them. They were utterly defeated. Now reality has sunk in, no one in this generation is going to enter the Promised Land. Korah is grieving. He realizes he is going to die in the wilderness. Nothing can be done as long as Moses and Aaron are running the show. But maybe just maybe if there is a change in leadership, maybe we can get a second chance.
Korah goes to the tribe of Reuben and convinces Dothan and Abiram to join him. These are 2 men who are suffering for the sin of their ancestor Reuben who slept with his Fathers wife. They are being penalized for something they had nothing to do with. They are now again being punished for the sin of the Spies. They are quick to join Korah to rewrite their story.
The root word of Korah’s name means to make one’s self bald. This is a practice used by people in the land of Canaan to mourn the dead. Moses addresses this is Deuteronomy 14:1-2
“Ye are the children of Jehovah your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, and Jehovah hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.”
This clues us in on Korah and his motivation. The ancient Rabbis tell us in the Midrash that Korah took and made clothes out of the fabric used to cover the holy items in the Tabernacle. Korah then tells Moses that all the people are Holy not just Moses and Aaron. Moses then tells Korah to get his followers and offer incense to God as Aaron offers incense and we will see who God chooses. God choses Moses and Aaron. Moses then tells everyone to move away from Korah and his followers. The ground opens up and swallows Korah, his family, as well all Dothan’s and Abiram’s tents and their families. Here is the irony. God treated Korah based on his words and actions. Korah said he and all the people are Holy. Korah put on garments that swallowed up the Holy things in the Tabernacle. The blue fabric was used to protect the people from the Holy things. Now God opens the Earth and swallows Korah and his followers to protect the people from the danger they can cause. Korah desired to be Holy and set apart. That is exactly what God did when He opened the Earth to swallow him. No one had ever been swallowed by the Earth.
The next day after God dealt with Korah and his followers the people rose up against Moses and Aaron again. 14,700 people died that day. Aaron took his incense burner and ran with it through the camp. This caused the plague to stop. The lesson for us is be careful who you allow to influence you living or dead. Korah had a larger affect after his death. Who are you allowing to influence you?
