Rebel Without a Clue

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly. (Numbers 16:1-2 NLT)

Korah decides to go up against Moses out in the desert.  It makes sense.  Moses is calling all the shots.  He took the people out in the desert.  They're stuck eating manna off the sand and drinking water from rocks.  Now they can't go into the promised land and all the adults are going to have to die.

Who made Moses boss?  Why do we have to listen to him?  It doesn't look like his leadership has gotten us anywhere!

The problem is, they weren't really rebelling against Moses.  "The LORD is the One you and your followers are really revolting against! For who is Aaron that you are complaining about him?" (Numbers 16:11 NLT)

When I'm training leaders, I explain to them that "Leadership is not about power or position.  It's about walking with God and helping others get there."  Our responsibility in church leadership is not to control people.  It's to clearly communicate God's will to them through our actions and words.  When we do, our role is done.  When we fail, we are held responsible by God.

Moses was a great leader.  He spoke with God face to face.  He knew what God wanted him and the community to do.  Moses followed God's leadership.  He pointed the people to doing the same.  In the end, though, each of us gets to choose whether we follow God or not.  Each of us is held responsible for our own actions, too.

He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the men, along with their households and all their followers who were standing with them, and everything they owned. So they went down alive into the grave, along with all their belongings. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished from among the people of Israel.  (Numbers 16:31-33 NLT)

Church leaders - the next time you're tempted to try to grab hold and control a situation, remember that God is big enough to fight His own battles.  Turn to Him and make sure you respond the way He wants.  He will take care of the rest.

All of us - the next time you're tempted to rebel against a Godly leader or the church, remember that you are not really rebelling against people or institutions.  You're rebelling against God Himself.  Be careful not to become like Korah...A rebel without a clue.