"Assembled Themselves Together"
“Assembled Themselves Together…”
Blessings folk!
Yesterday, you read an extended account. So good to hear that folk read it.
Amazing story, no?
Let us look more closely.
Read the following.
Give close attention to:
- Who was involved?
- What they did?
- Why they did it?
- Reaction of all?
Numbers 16
1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.
2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.
3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”
4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face,
5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.
Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On roused up the men.
- 250 chiefs of the congregation
- chosen from the assembly
- well-known men
These were not unimportant men.
These were leaders.
As we will see later, they had leadership roles and responsibilities.
They “assembled themselves together against Moses”.
This was not of God.
This was not initiated by God.
This was man, pure and simple.
Look at the accusation they hurled at Moses and Aaron.
- “you have gone too far…”
- “you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord”
The men stated that all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord was among them. (Questionable thesis.)
They were asking Moses and Aaron “who put you in charge?”
One would think that after all the Lord had done through Moses - plagues on Egypt, deliverance from Egypt, parting of the Red Sea, provision of water, etc. - they would know that the Lord was the One who placed them in leadership.
They did not care.
They were not challenging Moses and Aaron.
They were challenging God.
They denied God.
These were men of power and position.
They wanted another position.
They wanted an other’s position.
Moses’ response?
He fell on his face...we assume in humility before the body and the Lord, seeking the Lord.
He spoke and revealed the Lord’s plan.
The Lord will show who is His.
The Lord will show who is holy.
The Lord will bring near to Himself the one Who is near to Him.
Moses did not have to defend himself.
Be not envious of others.
Be not rebellious before the Lord.
Fall on your face before the Lord.