Compare Dathan and Abiram's actions with Romans 13:1-2 on authority. Setting the Stage: Rebellion in the Wilderness Numbers 16 recounts a pivotal moment when Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders challenged the leadership God had vested in Moses and Aaron. Their story provides a vivid backdrop for Paul’s later teaching on authority in Romans 13:1-2. Key Passages • Numbers 16:1-3, 12-14, 31-33 “Now Korah son of Izhar… took Dathan and Abiram… and they rose up against Moses… ‘Why then do you elevate yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?’” “So Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram… but they said, ‘We will not come!’” “As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open… and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them…” “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” What Dathan and Abiram Did • Rejected Moses’ summons—“We will not come!” (v. 12) • Accused Moses of failure and tyranny (v. 13-14) • Stirred communal discontent alongside Korah’s faction (v. 2-3) • Persisted even after Moses warned of divine judgment (v. 28-30) Paul’s Teaching on Authority • Authority originates with God (“appointed by God”). • Resistance equals opposition to God Himself. • Judgment is the inevitable result of such resistance. Side-by-Side Comparison • Source of Authority – Moses: directly appointed by God (Exodus 3:10-12; Numbers 12:6-8). – Civil rulers: likewise established by God (Romans 13:1). • Nature of Rebellion – Dathan & Abiram: public, defiant, personal toward Moses. – Paul’s general case: any resistance to rightful authority, whether private or public. • Divine Response – Wilderness: immediate, visible judgment—the earth swallowed the rebels. – Romans 13: eventual judgment—may be temporal through the state or eternal through God’s hand. • Underlying Sin – Pride, envy, ingratitude (Numbers 16:3, 13). – Romans 13 warns that such motives put one “opposing what God has set in place.” Consequences of Rejecting God-Appointed Authority • Physical destruction (Numbers 16:31-33). • Spiritual ruin—“They went down alive into Sheol” (v. 33). • Warning memorialized for later generations (Numbers 16:38; Jude 11). Underlying Heart Issues • Coveting positions God has not granted (cf. James 3:14-16). • Forgetting past deliverances (Numbers 16:13 refers to Egypt as “a land flowing with milk and honey”). • Mistaking God’s patience for approval (Ecclesiastes 8:11). Timeless Principles for Believers • Honor those God places over us—parents, church leaders, civil authorities (Ephesians 6:1-3; Hebrews 13:17). • Appeal, don’t rebel: respectful petitions align with biblical precedents (Daniel 1:8-14; Acts 25:11). • Remember God holds leaders accountable; vengeance is His, not ours (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). • Cultivate humility; leadership is service, not status (Mark 10:42-45). Supporting Scriptures • 1 Samuel 15:23 — “Rebellion is like the sin of divination.” • 1 Peter 2:13-15 — Submit “for the Lord’s sake.” • Jude 11 — Condemnation of “Korah’s rebellion.” Takeaway Dathan and Abiram serve as a cautionary tale that resisting God-ordained authority—whether in the wilderness or in modern society—invites divine judgment. Romans 13:1-2 draws the same straight line: authority belongs to God, and honoring Him means honoring those He installs, unless they command what God forbids or forbid what God commands (Acts 5:29). The faithful response is respectful submission, humble appeal, and unwavering trust that the Lord vindicates righteousness in His time. |
    |