The Majority Chose The Wrong Side

In one of the most organized threats to the God given order and leadership of Israel, Korah, the leader of a large family of Levites, and other men of renown in Israel, challenged Moses right to lead the people.

Numb. 16:1-3 “Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action,  2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown.  3 And they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

This rebellion was one of most dangerous that Israel faced because 1.) of the great influence that these leaders had over the people, and 2.) the success of their propaganda. Even after God destroyed the leading rebels by having the earth swallow them, and rest by fire directly by His hand, the people still sided with them. The leaders of rebellion were selfish (as Moses insightfully asked Korah, “And are you seeking for the priesthood also?” (vs. 20)), but they completely fooled the people. “All the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD’S people.’” (vs. 41) even after God directly destroyed them.  Korah and his men were obviously very popular, even after their execution. But popularacclaim didn’t save them or their followers, or make them right.