Who's The Boss?

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. They united against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD’s people?” When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. Then he said to Korah and his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The LORD will allow only those whom he selects to enter his own presence. [Numbers 16.1-5] 

For years I have read this with the idea that this passage is about "spiritual authority." Today, I am not so sure...

In context of the Bible and its progression to this point, God had been distinguishing between who was His and who was not. This was really showcased in Israel's exodus from Egypt. Over and again, God declared His intent to make a distinction between who was His and who was not.

Then, as is seen in the passage above, when Moses and Aaron responded to Korah, Dathan and Abiram, his response wasn't about "who's the boss" but about who belongs to God and who does not - which is much more serious than "who's in charge."

As was seen in Korah, Dathan and Abiram (and then some of the people who followed their rebellion), the penalty for not being "holy" was death. The penalty for not being God's was annihilation. Interestingly enough, it was a "natural disaster" (the ground opening up) and then a plague of sickenss that carried out the death sentence upon the unholy ones.

Could it have been a sheer coincidence that the ground opened up at just the moment Moses said it would? Sure. Could it have been purely a coincidence that a deadly plague broke out upon the people when it did? Sure. Could it have been a coincidence that the plague stopped at the very moment Aaron stood between the people? Sure. BUT! Should we not understand that it was a natural disaster and sickness that killed the people? Shouldn't we see that it was a natural disaster and sickness that distinguished between who was God's and who was not? Do we not see that these deadly curses are indeed the prescribed punishments for disobedience to God (confirmed later in Deuteronomy 28)?

And yet today, we give no thought whatsoever to the distinction being made by these exact same natural disaster and sickness curses when we encounter them. Instead, we mitigate them with insurance, medicine, and, ...oh yeah, religious prayer - without a moment's consideration of what Moses and Aaron did... Look at verse 4 from the passage above:

When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell face down on the ground. [Numbers 16.4]

Moses and Aaron did not stick out their chests and demand subservience from the people. They fell on their faces before God in repentance and intercession. They knew a "distinction" was about to be made between who was God's and who was not - and it was not going to be pretty.

So, what do we do with our natural disasters and sicknesses? We do the same thing the world does: call our insurance agent or go to the doctor. Instead of resorting to repentance and intercession eliciting the distinction of God's blessings, we mitigate the curses with man-made solutions.

Is it any wonder Jesus laid out such a "distinct" gauntlet?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

The curses upon Korah, Dathan and Ibiram are the same curses today. These "natural disaster" and "sickness" curses make the same distinction today between those who are God's (who have given up their own way, taken up their cross and followed Jesus) and those who are not.

I am afraid we missed the point regarding Korah's story... It's much deeper than just "Who's the boss?".

Father, help us to see that there is indeed a "distinction" between who are Yours and who are not. Forgive us for all our religious interpretations of Your Word that deny the distinctions made by curses past and present. May those who are Yours truly be distinguished from those who are not. So be it.