Korah’s Rebellion: A Warning to the Faithful (Copy)
By Donna Leone
Some years ago, my friend Michelle was trying to help me see the grave mistake I had made in leaving the Catholic Church for a “Bible Church”. She referenced an obscure passage found in the Epistle of Jude to make her point. I had read Jude’s letter before, but didn't recall reading anything about a man named Korah. However, perhaps more than any other admonition in the New Testament, this one really helped me to understand the necessity of remaining united to the apostolic Church – the church which has the apostles as her foundation.
The warning is so brief, that if you're not careful, you'll miss it and its staggering message! The Epistle of Jude is one of those short, short letters that usually gets a quick read-over. Yet, like all the inspired books of the Bible, there are powerful truths therein! In his letter, after greeting the faithful, Jude immediately tells them that he finds it necessary “to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith” (3) because “certain intruders have stolen in among you” (4). St. Jude provides example of men and angels who have, to their own destruction, rejected authority (8). Among these examples, Jude includes a certain Korah:
“Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” (Jude 11)
Cain, Balaam and Korah. Cain needs no introduction. Balaam, was lured by the promise of money to curse God’s people. (Numbers 22) So far, this is not a good group of men. So, who is Korah? In Numbers 16, we read how Korah and his followers (250 of them) had become "insolent" towards Moses and his brother, Aaron. They confronted Moses because they resented his leadership and authority, even though both Moses and Aaron had been hand-picked by God to lead His people. Moses, the author of the Book of Numbers, recorded what Korah said when he opposed him, and it's clear that he resented Moses' position of authority. Korah said:
You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly? (Num. 16:3)
Who does this sound like? It sounds like Protestants - protesting against the priesthood of the Catholic Church, because like Korah, they insist that everyone is equal and holy. They claim that Jesus never intended for there to be a hierarchy within the Church! Protestants resent the idea of having to submit to any pope, bishop, or priest, since priests are sinful men like everyone else. They ignore the abundance of scriptures that Jesus selected 12 apostles and gave them authority over His Church. Like Korah, Protestants claim they don't need priests to have a relationship with The Lord.
The outcome? Moses assured them that the Lord would show them who belonged to Him and whom He considered “holy”. Korah, who insisted they were all holy, perished with all of his followers. Here is how this incident is recorded in Numbers 26:8-10:
The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the LORD. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign.
Jude reminds faithful Christians of this “warning sign”! Moses made it clear that when Korah and his followers rebelled against him, they were actually rebelling against God. It shows that those who were counted as “holy” were those who were in union with God’s chosen leaders. Jesus himself chose the leaders for His Church, and just as he punished those who rebelled against Moses and Aaron - his chosen leaders of Israel - he will punish those who rebel against his Church. Jude warns Christians not to make this same mistake. He warns us not to rebel against the Church that Jesus founded, the Church of the Apostles.
Not that long ago, I read a book called How the Reformation Happened, by Hilaire Belloc. Belloc wrote something that I wish I had heard when I was a Baptist. He acknowledged that, without a doubt, the Church needed reformation, but reform should have happened from within the Church - as it eventually did thanks to men like St. Francis de Sales. Many of the complaints against the Church were justifiable, but the solution should never have been to leave. In leaving, Christians separated themselves from the true Church which Jesus founded, to follow other "shepherds", as many still do today.
"But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold." Jude 1:17
This is, of course, a very superficial treatment of "Korah's Rebellion", and there are much better ones out there. Not surprisingly, though, you will not hear it explained this way in a Protestant Church.
