The children of Israel had been doomed by God to wander the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience. But, they were going to make things worse. They didn't seem to ever learn.
Numbers 14:40- And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.
God had punished them, and now they thought they could just change His mind. But, they didn't have the relationship with God that Moses had. They were going to bear the consequences of their actions.
Numbers 14:41-45- And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
Moses tried to warn them, but again, they did what they wanted instead of what God wanted. They started a battle and they lost! Many of them died.
After this, another person thought that they would lead the Hebrew children.
Numbers 16:1-3- Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
A man named Korah started accusing Moses and Aaron of putting themselves in a position of power. God had chosen Moses and Aaron, but Korah was so full of pride that he, Dathan and Abiram, and On, and 250 other men thought they could take the leadership away from them.
Numbers 16:4-5- And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Moses knew how God would react to this. He fell flat on his face! He told Korah that God would answer them tomorrow.
Numbers 16:6-7- This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
Moses told them that they were to come before God with censers filled with fire. Korah and On and the 250 men were in front of Moses, but Dathan and Abiram weren't.
Numbers 16:12- And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
Oh boy! These men were very disrespectful! And God has a special punishment for those who don't respect the people He puts in charge.
Numbers 16:19- And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
So, Korah gathered everybody he could to come see the showdown. But again, Dathan and Abiram didn't come.
Numbers 16:23-26- And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
So, God told Moses to go to where Dathan and Abiram were. God was going to punish them not only for their evil speech, but also for their stubborness. Their punishment would be even worse than that of the other people, so much so that God told Moses to warn everyone around them to move!
Numbers 16:27, 32, 33 -So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and everything they owned slipped through a sink hole that God opened up. They fell straight into hell because of their insurrection. But what about the 250 other guys?
Numbers 16:35- And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
God killed them with fire. But the Israelites thought that it was something Moses had done.
Numbers 16:41-42- But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
They started to accuse Moses, the friend of God. And God came down to take care of it.
Numbers 16:43, 46, 48- And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
God doesn't take kindly to those who don't obey. God doesn't like when we lead others away from His will. And He won't tolerate when anyone goes after His chosen people.
