Numbers 16

Moses and Aaron were from the clan of Kohath of the tribe of Levi. There were many other Kohathites, but by God's command, only the descendants of Aaron among them could be priests. All of the people of Israel were counted as a kingdom of priests to God, but not all reigned over the nation as kings or offered incense to God as priests.

Some of the men resented this, and they assembled a group of 250 chiefs of the congregation in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Their claim was that all the congregation was holy. This was true, but that did not mean that God had not set apart Moses and Aaron for certain functions that were only for them. Korah and his company also made the charge that Moses and Aaron, according to their own desires for glory, had exalted themselves above all the other Israelites, which was not the case.

Moses understood that this attack was against God and not merely against Aaron and his sons. When we have rebellious impulses against those in church authority, is it possible that we are really fighting against God?

Some of the men that were involved in this rebellion refused to even come to Moses when he sent for them. They renewed their claim that Egypt had been a land flowing with milk and honey for them, and that Moses was at fault for leading them out into the wilderness.

These rebellious men were putting themselves in great danger. It was not even safe to be anywhere near them. The earth swallowed them up and fire came out from the Lord to consume those who were offering incense against the Lord's commandments.

Despite these miraculous displays of divine judgment, the people of Israel still grumbled against Moses and Aaron. God was ready to consume them all. He used Moses and Aaron to plead for this sinful nation. Christ, our great High Priest, not only interceded for us, but gave His life for us at the appointed time.

The wrath of God was a very serious matter for the consideration of all the earth. Only the blood of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, could have made effective atonement for us. His death stopped a plague that would have consumed us and our families forever.