Korah (Father of Moses and Aaron)
Some notorious historical figures might have remained anonymous if they hadn’t tried to grab on to more than they could hold. But by refusing to be content with what they had, and by trying to get more than they deserved, they ended up with nothing. Korah, one of the Israelite leaders, was such a person.

Korah was a Levite who assisted in the daily functions of the Tabernacle. Shortly after Israel’s great rebellion against God (Numbers 13; 14), Korah instigated his own minirebellion. He recruited a grievance committee and confronted Moses and Aaron. Their list of complaints boils down to three statements: (1) You are no better than anyone else; (2) everyone in Israel has been chosen of the Lord; (3) we don’t need to obey you. It is amazing to see how Korah twisted the first two statements—both true—to reach the wrong conclusion.

Moses would have agreed that he was no better than anyone else. He would also have agreed that all Israelites were God’s chosen people. But Korah’s application of these truths was wrong. Not all Israelites were chosen to lead. Korah’s hidden claim was this: "I have as much right to lead as Moses does." His error cost him not only his job—a position of service that he enjoyed—but also his life.

Korah’s story gives us numerous warnings: (1) Don’t let desire for what someone else has make you discontented with what you already have. (2) Don’t try to raise your own self-esteem by attacking someone else’s. (3) Don’t use part of God’s Word to support what you want, rather than allowing its entirety to shape your wants. (4) Don’t expect to find satisfaction in power and position; God may want to work through you in the position you are now in.

1- Strengths and accomplishments

- Popular leader; influential figure during the Exodus
- Mentioned among the chief men of Israel (Exodus 6)
- One of the first Levites appointed for special service in the Tabernacle

2- Weaknesses and mistakes

- Failed to recognize the significant position God had placed him in
- Forgot that his fight was against someone greater than Moses
- Allowed greed to blind his common sense

3- Lessons from his life

- There is sometimes a fine line between goals and greed
- If we are discontented with what we have, we may lose it without gaining anything better

4- Vital statistics

- Where: Egypt, Sinai peninsula
- Occupation: Levite (Tabernacle assistant)

5- Key verses

"Then Moses spoke again to Korah: ‘Now listen, you Levites! Does it seem a small thing to you that the God of Israel has chosen you from among all the people of Israel to be near him as you serve in the Lord‘s Tabernacle and to stand before the people to minister to them? He has given this special ministry only to you and your fellow Levites, but now you are demanding the priesthood as well!’" (Numbers 16:8–10).

Korah’s story is told in Numbers 16:1–40. He is also mentioned in Numbers 26:9; Jude 1:11.

 

Korah, the father of Moses and Aaron

A Levite, the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron #Ex 6:21 The institution of the Aaronic priesthood and the Levitical service at Sinai was a great religious revolution. The old priesthood of the heads of families passed away. This gave rise to murmurings and discontent, while the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh for the first time, which came to a head in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, headed by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Two hundred and fifty princes, "men of renown" i.e., well-known men from among the other tribes, joined this conspiracy. The whole company demanded of Moses and Aaron that the old state of things should be restored, alleging that "they took too much upon them" #Nu 16:1-3 On the morning after the outbreak, Korah and his associates presented themselves at the door of the tabernacle, and "took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon." But immediately "fire from the Lord" burst forth and destroyed them all #Nu 16:35 Dathan and Abiram "came out and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children," and it came to pass "that the ground clave asunder that was under them; and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up." A plague thereafter began among the people who sympathized in the rebellion, and was only stayed by Aaron’s appearing between the living and the dead, and making "an atonement for the people" #Nu 16:47 The descendants of the sons of Korah who did not participate in the rebellion afterwards rose to eminence in the Levitical service.