A Devotional

A Deadly Sin
Envy can truly be one of the deadliest of sins. Korah, a great-grandson of Levi, learned this bitter lesson
at a great cost. Korah was the son of Izhar and the grandson of Kohath; his lineage made him among
those responsible for moving and packing the tabernacle pieces during the time of the Exodus while the
Israelites wandered the desert. Having this esteemed lineage of Levi also made Karah a cousin to Moses
and Aaron. Yet, for all that he had been given in his closeness to the holy places of God and his
brethren, envy grew in his heart. He did not believe that God had appointed Moses to lead them and
appointed Aaron as high priest, despite having been present at the Exodus and being witness to God’s
signs and miracles thus far.

Korah teamed up with descendants of Reuben: Dathan, Abiram and On, sons of Eliab and Peleth
and approached Moses. Korah here had found other like men who were struggling with their own envy
issues among the tribes and turned it to his advantage.

“And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation,
chosen from the assembly, well-known men. They assembled themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one
of them, and the Lord is among them…. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the
Lord?'” Num 16:2-3 Moses fell on his face when he heard them and said that in the morning the Lord
would show them who was holy and who was His. They would need to light censors and put incense on
them. The one that the Lord chooses would be the holy one.

Moses said, “You have gone too far, sons of Levi!…Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has
separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near Himself to do the work at
the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? …but now you are trying
to get the priesthood also? …it is against the Lord that you and your company have gathered together.”
Num 16:7-11 Moses could see that all this centered around one man’s vain ambition to be high priest in
Aaron’s place, and that he did not care about the cost or the people he was currently serving.
The next day, the Lord’s anger burned bright as the whole congregation gathered along with the 250 men
and their censors and Moses and Aaron all before the tent of the meeting. Moses and Aaron interceded
on behalf of the congregation and asked God to spare the people for the sin of one man. Moses called
for Abiram and Dathan, but they only sent their list of grievances in their place. The Lord God spoke to
Moses and Aaron and instructed them to separate themselves from the dwellings of Korah and the
Reubenites: Abiram and Dathan. The two share these instructions with the congregation and have them
step away from the dwellings of those men telling the people that for their sins the three and all that
belong to them would be swallowed up and taken alive to Sheol by God. Moments later the earth
opened up and enveloped all those loyal to Korah: the men, their tents, families, and servants. Then fire
rained down from the heavens and consumed the 250 leaders holding the censors, leaving only the
censors themselves behind. Only Moses and Aaron were left and any who had separated themselves
from the dwellings. In the days that follow a plague passes among the people who grumbled and
blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths and some 14,700 died.

Yet this is not just a cautionary tale of the dangers of envy. Somewhere in the midst of that congregation
that stepped away from the sin of Korah, were his own children. The Bible says in Numbers 26:11, “But
the sons of Korah did not die.” They stepped away from their father’s sin and embraced God and their
service. They continued to minister to the people and become temple songwriters and psalmists (Psalms
42-49 and 84-87) and in charge of the work of the service and keepers of the thresholds of the Levite
tents (1 Chronicles 9:17-19). Even the prophet, priest and judge Samuel is counted among the
descendants of Korah. Envy is a powerful and persuasive force especially when it is wielded by
our loved ones, but the love of God is much stronger. Stay focused on God and serve Him and others
with joy. Let that be your legacy to the next generation. The sons of Korah lived; they really lived when
they chose to step away from sin toward a Heavenly Father that loved them.
“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way,” Psalm 46:1-2a

Submitted by: Rachel Linkswiler