In Numbers, chapter sixteen, verse three, the mutiny led by Korah, a Levite, and Dathan and Abiram of the tribe of Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn son, was an ambitious attempt to get more power and a higher position for themselves as priests. They challenged Moses’ authority and the command that Aaron alone was to be a high priest. By this action, they reject God and His revealed Word regarding who would lead God’s people. Consequently, they received God’s just condemnation, as will all those in God’s kingdom that “love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats at synagogues.” The rebellion of Korah and his cohorts do not realize that they are not authorized to promote themselves to take over a position because they feel they qualify.
Korah and his comrades met by appointment and went up to Moses and Aaron. These were two hundred and fifty well-known men among the congregation. However, when Moses heard their protest, he fell to his face through shame, blushing at their sin, opposing the ordinance of God. Moses, through fear of the divine displeasure and the wrath of God coming upon them for such wickedness, and to pray to God for them to make them sensible of their sin, and give them repentance for it, and pardon of it, and avert his judgments from them such conduct. Korah and his comrades thought they could choose for themselves who would lead the people. However, God made it plain that He was in charge, as described in verse thirty-two of the same chapter.
Moses’ reaction speaks for itself. These two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly try to contend with God’s servant with their status to proclaim that they should be in a higher position. Why did they not directly approach God instead? They do not understand that God sees the heart of Moses and how he is for the people and does not put himself above them. They do not see him praying and pleading for them when they mess up with their murmurings from when they left Egypt.
Korah and his entourage’s hearts were about positioning, not the people. God knew that, and they paid the price for it. However, the sons of Korah did not die with their father, for they did not participate in his rebellion.