Topical Bible: Faith: At the Death of Korah

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The account of Korah's rebellion is a significant event in the Old Testament, illustrating the consequences of challenging God's appointed leadership and the importance of faith in divine authority. This narrative is found in Numbers 16, where Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 other leaders, rose up against Moses and Aaron, questioning their leadership and the special status of the priesthood.

Korah's challenge was rooted in a lack of faith in God's chosen order. He argued that the entire congregation was holy and questioned why Moses and Aaron set themselves above the assembly of the LORD (Numbers 16:3). This rebellion was not merely against human leaders but against God's divine appointment, reflecting a deeper spiritual defiance.

Moses, in response, demonstrated his faith in God's justice and sovereignty. He proposed a test to determine whom the LORD had chosen, instructing Korah and his followers to present themselves with censers before the LORD (Numbers 16:5-7). Moses' actions were not based on personal defense but on a reliance on God to vindicate His chosen leaders.

The outcome of this confrontation was a dramatic demonstration of divine judgment. The earth opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their households and all their possessions (Numbers 16:31-33). Fire also came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering incense (Numbers 16:35). This event served as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of rebellion against God's established order and the necessity of faith in His decisions.

The aftermath of Korah's rebellion further emphasized the importance of faith. The Israelites, witnessing the judgment, accused Moses and Aaron of killing the LORD's people (Numbers 16:41). In response, God sent a plague, which was only halted when Aaron, acting on Moses' instruction, made atonement for the people by standing between the living and the dead with his censer (Numbers 16:46-48). This act of intercession highlighted the role of faith in God's mercy and the priestly function as a mediator between God and His people.

The account of Korah's rebellion is a sobering lesson on the consequences of faithlessness and the rejection of divine authority. It underscores the importance of trusting in God's appointed leaders and His sovereign plan. The narrative also illustrates the protective power of faith, as seen in the intercessory role of Aaron, which points to the ultimate intercessor, Jesus Christ, who stands between humanity and divine judgment.

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Numbers 16:28,29
And Moses said, Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of my own mind.
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Library

Demonstration xxii. --Of Death and the Latter Times.
... thee, and tell thou me, why is death called death, and why ... 1200] We say that to Sheol,
in which Korah and his ... and fall short; but that this is my faith, that I ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration xxii of death and the.htm

The Credibility of Scripture Sufficiently Proved in So Far as ...
... of his authority, by the fearful destruction of Korah, Nathan, and ... when it is considered
that in bearing testimony to the faith, they met death not with ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 8 the credibility of.htm

Death Swallowed up in victory
... to have opened her mouth, and swallowed' up Korah and his ... be made alive' are those
who, by faith in Him, are delivered from the sting of death, which is sin ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xliii death swallowed up.htm

Third Sunday Before Lent
... 11, 27), and all the other great men aside from the faction of Korah. ... God, in which
we must believe in order to be saved through faith from sin and death. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/third sunday before lent.htm

The Knowledge of Jesus Christ the Best Knowledge
... he that presumes to go without this, acts Korah's crime over ... as experimental knowledge
of, or vital faith in his ... The death of Jesus Christ has turned our whole ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the knowledge of jesus christ.htm

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
... Will they not rather imitate Korah, Dathan, and Abiram's friends, even ... as bad, nay,
worse than was that death of the ... is to swear by God, Christ, faith, and the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the life and death of.htm

Epistle Lxvii. To the Clergy and People Abiding in Spain ...
... be manifested also in Numbers, when Korah, and Dathan ... not only they are worthy of
death, and come ... religious solicitude of your integrity and faith, and exhort ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle lxvii to the clergy.htm

The Earthquake (Preached October 11, 1863. )
... it depends on God's mercy that we do not, like Korah, Dathan, and ... or depth, or time
or space, or life or death, can part me from His love: my faith that I ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xv the earthquake preached.htm

The Memorable Hymn. "And when they had Sung an Hymn, they Went Out ...
... justice might have doomed; and "the sons of Korah" were ever ... Have you made a league
with death, and a covenant with ... One act of faith, and all the sin you have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/till he come/the memorable hymn and when.htm

The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the ...
... a strong point of it as between Moses and Korah, that there ... when the messengers apprised
him of his only child's death, seemed still to numb his faith. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxvi the healing of.htm