At thirty-seven, Daniel was a deacon at Cornerstone Church, a husband to his wife Emily, and father to their two young sons. He had a steady job as a facilities manager at a Christian school, a modest but paid-off house on the edge of town, and a family that loved him. Every Sunday he stood on the platform and helped serve communion. Every night he prayed with his boys before bed.
Yet every morning he woke up feeling behind. He watched other men at church drive newer trucks and take their families on mission trips to exotic places. He listened to podcasts about “kingdom wealth” and “breaking generational poverty.” The more he listened, the more convinced he became that God was holding back from him because he wasn’t acting in faith.
One Tuesday night after men’s group, a visiting businessman named Rick shared how he had “stepped out in faith” and turned a small investment into six figures in under a year. Daniel cornered him afterward.
“I want in,” he said. “Whatever you’re doing, I’m ready.”
Rick smiled and handed him a card. “It’s not for everyone, brother. But if you’re serious about abundance, this is how you get it.”
Two weeks later, Daniel took $18,000 from their emergency fund and another $12,000 on a new credit card and sent it to the “private opportunity” Rick had described. It was supposed to be a short-term real estate deal that would double their money in ninety days. Daniel told himself he was being a good provider. He told himself this was what faith looked like.
The ninety days came and went. The money did not double. It disappeared. Rick stopped returning calls. The “deal” turned out to be nothing more than a few vague emails and a website that no longer worked. Daniel had acted so quickly that he never asked for paperwork.
Panic set in. He began staying up late staring at investment forums, trying to “make it back” with smaller, riskier trades using what little credit he had left. When that failed, he started looking for a higher-paying job. Within a month he had quit his stable position at the school and taken a commission-only sales role at a company that sold expensive water filtration systems.
Three months into the new job, Daniel had made exactly two sales. The family’s savings were gone. The credit cards were maxed. They began missing mortgage payments.
Daniel’s fundamental problem was that he was discontent with what he had, even though he had been given much. The 16th chapter of Numbers tells us about Korah. Korah was also discontent, even though he had been given much. His discontent led to disaster, which should serve as a warning to us to be grateful for what God has given us.
Num. 16:1 ¶ Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took others,
The first verse introduces us to Korah, who was a descendant of Kohath, who was the son of Levi. The 4th chapter of Numbers tells us the Kohathites were given the responsibility and privilege of carrying the furniture of the tabernacle. The Kohathites were not priests, but compared to all the other tribes, they had a privileged position.
This verse also introduces us to Dathan, Abiram, and On. They were Reubenites.
Notice the last word of the verse, the word “others”. This indicates Korah’s rebellion was not just a couple of men. There were many involved in this.
Num. 16:2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, 250 leaders of the congregation, those called upon by the assembly, men of renown.
Look at the words “leaders” and “men of renown”. This rebellion was not by people who had nothing. The men in this rebellion had leadership positions and good reputations.
Num. 16:3 Then they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Yahweh is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?”
Notice the question “why do you exalt yourselves?” The reality was Moses did not exalt himself. The book of Exodus tells us that Yahweh called Moses to lead Israel and that Moses tried to get out of the assignment (see Exodus 3).
Num. 16:4 ¶ And Moses heard this and fell on his face;
Num. 16:5 and he spoke to Korah and all his congregation, saying, “Tomorrow morning Yahweh will show who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself.
Num. 16:6 Do this: take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your congregation,
Num. 16:7 and put fire in them, and lay incense upon them in the presence of Yahweh tomorrow; and the man whom Yahweh chooses shall be the one who is holy. You have gone far enough, you sons of Levi!”
Num. 16:8 ¶ Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi,
Num. 16:9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;
Notice the question “Is it not enough?” This was the central problem. Korah was a Kohathite. He and his relatives had the privilege of carrying the furniture of the tabernacle, but that was not enough for him.
Num. 16:10 and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also?
Moses correctly called out Korah’s desire to be a priest.
Num. 16:11 Therefore you and all your congregation are gathered together against Yahweh; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?”
Moses also correctly called out the fact that Korah was rebelling against Yahweh.
Num. 16:12 ¶ Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.
Num. 16:13 Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to put us to death in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us?
Num. 16:14 Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!”
This was actually true. At that point they were not in a land flowing with milk and honey. However, we saw in the 13th and 14th chapters of Numbers that the Israelites brought that upon themselves.
Num. 16:15 ¶ Then Moses became very angry and said to Yahweh, “Do not regard their offering! I have not taken a single donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them.”
Num. 16:16 And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your congregation be present before Yahweh tomorrow, both you and they along with Aaron.
Num. 16:17 And each of you take his firepan and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer near before Yahweh, 250 firepans; also you and Aaron shall each bring his firepan.”
Num. 16:18 So they each took his own censer and put fire on it, and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.
Num. 16:19 Thus Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the congregation.
Num. 16:20 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
Num. 16:21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.”
Verse 21 makes it clear Yahweh was displeased with the actions of Korah.
Num. 16:22 But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”
Ponder the question in this verse. Korah was a leader who was leading people astray. Moses and Aaron asked Yahweh to not be angry with the followers, but instead to only punish the leader of the rebellion.
Korah had been given much, but he focused on what he didn’t have and ended up doing something very rash and wrong. This is a warning to us. If we are discontent with what we have been given, our greed and jealousy may end up causing us to do something very stupid.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”