Numbers 16:1-35 KJV 1 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: 2 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: 3 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? 4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: 5 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. 6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; 7 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. 8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: 9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him? 12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up: 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? 14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up. 15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. 16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: 17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. 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. 20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation? 23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 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. 27 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. 28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 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. 33 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. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

The choosing of leaders is not always of the Lord.When I read Old Testament Scripture and the way leaders were proven to be leaders, I must say beware of God's choosing. Basicly Korah had decided to burn incense to God, he was tired of Moses leadership and his holy then though attitude in his opinion. Korah discernment caused Moses to fall down in prostrated to the ground. Korah attitude of his opinion of Moses was far from the truth. Moses knew these men knew nothing about serving God only, or the power God had to choose his people. The biggest mistake humanity makes is not understanding the power of God to destroy those that want to go against his anointed as well as his divine rule among the people. God even gives certain power to Satan that can't be removed til it time. The point is God establishes rulers, leaders, devils, and even people of authority for a purpose. We might think we cast a vote to see who will lead our nation and it is so, but in truth God anoints our leaders for a time. When time up he is removed from position. Sometimes because of the leaders own error and sometimes because of term being over. Satan power will be removed one day that upon this earth. It matter not how many prominent men back Korah. He had exalted himself as being a religious leader. He would be destroyed. He had made incense and burnt them before the people that gather at his tent. In other words there was a cell group of people against Moses leadership. That cell group was about to be destroyed. Moses when he fell down in prayer before the Lord. Moses knew he himself was chosen by God. He was chosen and even seen a burning bush for his auguration that did not burn up. He had seen the power of God through out his ministry, and now someone was questioning his leadership ability as well as his authority from God. He was hurt by anyone questioning this authority and even angry. He also knew the wrath of God would come to these men because of their ignorance. Pastor do not choose there calling. A Pastor desire should be wherever God leads I will follow, the cry should be Lord send me to the lost and dying world. God annoints them to serve in different location for his purpose. Korah rose up only for God to destroy. The fear of God was no longer among the congregation of the people. Some were tired of Moses leadership and not in fear of God any longer. Moses declared that God would destroy Korah. If Korah died of normal things common to any man, Moses was not anointed. If Korah died by being swallowed up by the earth, he himself was called/anointed by God to serve the people. A new things happened Korah was swallowed up. Fear occurred among the men. They began to run and say what will happen to us will be swallowed up too. God destory 250 men with fire. If we lived among the time period of Moses these events would be enough to know to fear of the Lord. Modern world would rather examine the hole that swallowed up Korah and find out if their was a reason. Equipment would be checking for earthquakes and other geographic explanation for the event. Man today would see fire from heaven destroy only wonder how did the comet fall at the right moment. Man would then be looking around them. still search if God did not destroy them first. I know myself there been times God's done something I have question, and wonder is this of God or man. Moses makes it clear that something are of God and something are not. One way to know for certain if it something extreme and not normal cause of death. Man fails to trust God's power to allow leaders and minister to rise up that He calls. Instead of allowing God to destory and to prove who He calls. Are we waiting for God's calling on our leaders, and are we waiting for God's calling on our ministers. Where are you today in seeing leaders in our nation rise and fall and seeing our ministers come and go as God leads. God choose our path. He choose each of our paths. If we follow Christ as Lord our God ordained for us, then we know the power of God to open and close doors in our life. That destruction of man, can not stop God resurrecting power, nor stop God's power to lead his people. God's people do die, but even Balaam a false prophet had to speak the words of God. If God is going to speak to the people, He can even use evil men too. Let us beware of who we serve and how God teaches each and everyone that believes. Let us be aware of the hope through Christ Jesus. Evil times do not mean God is not in control, it only means the devil is alive for a season. Korah had a short season, but he did not live to control. Christ was killed/crucified by man only for God to raise him to serve again. Dear Heavenly Father, help us to trust in your choosing despite even our own misgivings, let us trust in your faithful to raise up and to tear down things out of our own control. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:John 11:25 KJV Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: http://www.turtle30cshell.com