Heavy Lies the Crown

To be in charge is a difficult thing.
To be in charge of God's people is a very difficult thing.

We have surrounding the horrible sequence of events in Numbers 13-14, where Israel forfeited their heritage through doubt and unbelief, tow incidents in which Moses is challenged in his authority and leadership by those who were close to him. In Numbers 12 it was his own family - Aaron and Miriam. Now In Numbers 16 is is the followers of Korah of the Kohath clan and the sons of Reuben.

Numbers 16:1–3 (ESV) Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, 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 a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3 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?”

What is interesting here is once again where revolt arises... it is from those in high position. Kohath was assigned the holy instruments of the Lord in the Tabernacle during moving. They had a prestigious and important designation in the sight of the people. Reuben camped on the South side of the Tabernacle - an important note because it was the same side where the Kohath family of Levites camped. No doubt their proximity to each other became the feeding ground for their unity in creating this dissension. 

What is striking is the complaint against Moses. They claim that Moses has exalted himself above the people even when God declared all of Israel His holy possession. They were right in one sense but wrong in another. Yes, Israel was holy to the Lord, but there were leadership structures in place by God to bring direction to the nation. God is the God of order and authority. This was the same issue Aaron and Miriam had with Moses. They believed they were on equal footing with him so why the need to follow any longer?

The complaint of Dathan and Abiram was slightly different. They challenged Moses' leadership altogether based on the results they experienced thus far.


Numbers 16:13–14 (ESV) Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.”

Moses' leadership was challenged by both the assumption of arrogance on their part and the dissatisfaction with the results other experienced. This is what leaders often face. But what do we do about it? When people question what God has called us to and the slow moving results we may have to endure, what will be our response? Moses gives us a crystal clear image:

Numbers 16:4–5 (ESV) When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.

When people attack you as a leader, the best place to be is on your face and trusting the timing of God. The chapter continues with Moses completely relying on God to fight this battle. God stands up for Moses the next day by openly swallowing up these rebels in the sight of the people with the very Earth they are standing on. 

Numbers 16:28–33 (ESV) And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.” 31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

What do we learn about leadership from Moses? 

Great leaders will be challenged by those they lead - even those they place in high position. God's own leadership was challenged by the angel Lucifer HE created and adorned. Jesus was a great leader and His followers continually challenged Him. So did Paul's own partners. Expect it.

Great leaders will be humble to respond according to God's leading and not according to their emotions. This is a huge challenge for many leaders. We want to react, but we needn't do so. God will prove Himself for us. It may take time, but trust Him. He has your back.

Great leaders do not delight in the demise of those who challenge them. Moses did not victory dance at the end of this chapter. Moses even interceded for the nation when God threatened national judgment. His heart was for the people over and over. That is the mark of a great leader. That is a leader God will continually trust and use. 

May we all learn and grow to be great leaders like Moses.