Lesson Four | Devotion #4: Korah
Wes McCullough | Production Director
Have you ever wanted something and been sure it was God’s plan for you to have it? While the Bible says, “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7), it is not a guarantee. God still requires patience from you. Sometimes the answer to your request comes after waiting and sometimes not at all.
The book of Numbers chapter 16 records a story about a man named Korah who served in the tabernacle. One day Korah went to Moses with a couple of hundred people and accused him of leading the Israelites through the desert however he saw fit. Korah accused Moses of promoting himself above all others and of hoarding all of God’s holiness when all the people were holy. After seeing God work through Moses in the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, Korah still did not believe Moses was leading at God’s command.
Korah’s perspective was twisted and selfish. Korah and his gang had come against Moses and Aaron to overthrow them for what they viewed as an abuse of power. Moses countered their accusations saying, “Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has selected you out of the congregation of Israel to bring you near him to serve in the ministries of The Dwelling of God, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? He has brought you and all your brother Levites into his inner circle, and now you’re grasping for the priesthood, too. It’s God you’ve ganged up against, not us” (Numbers 16:8-11 MSG).
Moses did not need to defend himself. He allowed the Lord to answer the accusations against him. With the whole community assembled, the Earth opened up and swallowed Korah and his family, servants, and possessions. Also, God’s holy fire consumed every man that had joined Korah’s rebellion.
These misguided men teach us a valuable lesson: do not think you can put God on your team; you can only join God’s team. They thought God had their back in the fight they picked but God does not fight from behind the front lines; He leads the charge and does the fighting, so His people do not have to fight.
As you go through life, continue to seek God’s will and ask to be used in any manner God desires. Whenever and however God does use you, be satisfied knowing God is pleased with your obedience.