Separation

 It started with one. Usually, that’s all it takes. The adage that one bad apple spoils the bunch is accurate unless the bad apple is removed before it can contaminate others. It began with Korah, then his numbers grew to two hundred and fifty, and by the time the story reached its crescendo, all the congregation was gathered against Moses at the door of the Tabernacle of meeting.

Their attitude is mirrored in today’s church, wherein we are not grateful for what God has already done for us but anxious about what He will do for us today. Our expectations are that tomorrow will always exceed today’s blessing, and one setback, hardship, and trial is enough for us to shake our fists at the sky in frustration.

Numbers 16:16-29, “And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the Lord – you and they, as well as Aaron. Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer. So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.’”

Korah must have felt pretty good about his situation. He’d worked tirelessly to turn the hearts of the people away from Moses and Aaron, and here he stood, seeing his plan come to life, with all the congregation gathered against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.

He had the numbers. Two men against the whole of Israel weren’t odds anyone would relish the idea of, but what Korah didn’t take into account is that although he had turned the people against Moses and Aaron, God was still for them, and if God is for you, everything else is inconsequential.

A choice between a big budget, a big ministry, a big congregation, or the favor and presence of God is no choice at all. Only a fool will choose the natural things over the supernatural ones because while human ability, will, and resources are limited, God’s not limited in any area, ever.

God’s command to Moses and Aaron was simple enough. Separate yourselves from among this congregation because we’re going to settle the matter once and for all.

There always comes a point where God speaks to those who obey Him to separate themselves from those in rebellion. Once that occurs, judgment is imminent, and the only thing the obedient need to concern themselves with is to be far enough away from the disobedient when the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up.

There were no negotiations, no attempt at diplomacy, no soft-handed pleas by God for the people to return to obedience, just separation.

As the story unfolds, we begin to see the true nature of Korah. Not a benign man who just wanted the best for the people of God but an evil man who tried to turn the hearts of the people away from the one true God.

Before Elijah and the prophets of Baal, there was Moses and the rebellious children of the house of Israel. His proclamation was absent ambiguity and clear enough that even a dullard could understand it.

Numbers 16:28, “And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.’”

A man who had been separated from the congregation of Israel to be brought near to God and stand before the congregation to serve them had allowed evil in his heart to the point that he and those who followed him were deemed to have rejected the Lord.

Holding an office or a title does not shield you from deception, pride, avarice, or heresy. Having a relationship with Christ, daily working out your salvation with fear and trembling, and walking humbly with your Lord does.

Korah thought his office justified him to the point of believing that God was compelled to follow his lead rather than him following God’s lead. He was dissatisfied with his portion and place and chose instead to undermine Moses and Aaron in the hope of replacing them.

He used every tool the enemies of the cross still use today, from flattery, calling all the people holy, even though he knew himself not to be, to laying blame at the feet of Moses for the disobedience, grumbling, and rebellion the people had descended into, to getting numerical superiority on his side and feeling confident about the outcome because of it.

Yes, a majority can be wrong. Very wrong. Fatally wrong. Just because the wicked outnumber the righteous, it does not mean the wicked are in the right. Just because it seems like the wicked are winning doesn’t mean they will be victorious.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea, Jr.