Vince Lombardi wrote, “Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” Beware of the consequences of rebelling against delegated authority.
Korah, Dathan, Abriram and On with 250 renowned leaders assembled together against Moses and Aaron and said all the congregation were holy. They asked why Moses and Aaron exalted themselves above the assembly (Num. 16:1-3). Those who rebel against delegated authority exalt themselves.
When Moses heard these accusations, he fell on his face and said the Lord would bring the holy one near to Himself. Korah and his company would take censers, put fire in them and lay incense upon them in the presence of Lord. Moses told Korah that the Lord separated him to do service of the tabernacle and asked if he was also seeking the priesthood by grumbling against Aaron (Num. 16:4-11). Those who rebel against delegated authority are jealous of what God called others to do.
Dathan and Abiram said they would not assemble because Moses lord it over the nation. He did not bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey and did not give them an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Korah assembled the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the doorway of the tent of meeting and God’s glory appeared to all of them (Num. 16:12-19). Those who rebel against delegated authority have a false and negative view of reality.
The Lord said to separate themselves from the congregation that He may consume them instantly. Moses told the congregation to depart from the tents of the wicked men lest they be swept away in all their sin. If they died naturally, then the Lord did not send Moses to do these deeds. If the Lord opened the ground to swallow them alive into Sheol, it proved these men have spurned the Lord. The ground split open and the earth swallowed them and their households down alive to Sheol. Fire came forth from the Lord and consumed 250 men offering the incense (Num. 16:20-35). Those who rebel against delegated authority will be judged severely by God.
The censers were made into hammered sheets as a plating of the altar as a reminder that no layman who was not descendants of Aaron would come near to burn incense before Lord. This would prevent them from becoming like Korah and his company (Num. 16:36-40). Those who rebel against delegated authority create visual reminders to prevent others from following their example.
The congregation grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying they caused the death of the Lord’s people. Moses said to Aaron to take the censer, put in fire and make atonement for them because of God’s wrath in the plague. Aaron took his stand between dead and living so the plague was checked (Num.16:41-50). Those who rebel against delegated authority cast blame for the consequences they suffer.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do you exalt yourself?
2. Are you jealous of what God calls others to do?
3. Do you have a false and negative view of reality?
4. Do you cast blame for the consequences you suffer?
God’s wants to cover and forgive the sin of rebelling against delegated authority.
