Power

By Mary Vee
Numbers 16:34-40

Eleazar's Thoughts

I'd never seen anything so powerful before in my life. My heart is still pounding. 

The earth split apart right under Korah, Dathan, and Abiram's tents spilling everything into the earth. They vanished. 

Uncle Moses warned Korah and the others not to rebel against God's instructions. I could have told Dad and Uncle Moses they wouldn't listen. Korah had talked behind their backs to the children of Israel for days. Well, you can read more about that by clicking on this link:  Korah fights Moses.


After the earth closed over Korah the whole camp went crazy. They ran away like wild people screaming and crying "The earth is going to swallow us too! Get out of my way!"  I couldn't believe my eyes. They pushed into each other, knocking down children and older people, running into tents and tripping over rocks. If any scout from another country saw what our people did, their army would be sent to conquer us before nightfall.

I stayed by the tabernacle next to Uncle Moses and my dad, you might know him as Aaron the high priest.  The two hundred and fifty men who had joined Korah huddled together near where the earth opened. Since they didn't leave with the rest of the camp, I guess they still wanted to fight my uncle, big mistake.

None of them talked. They didn't seem to know what to do now that Korah had been killed. Dad stood next to Uncle Moses as if they knew something else would happen. They didn't fall to the ground and ask for God to forgive the people. They simply stood there, waiting.


The cloud with the presence of the Lord rolled and rumbled over our heads. This didn't look good.  But, like fools, Korah's followers stood their ground.  You'd think they'd come running to Moses to apologize. But they didn't.  A moment later, lightening flames flew from the cloud straight at the group. Before any of them could change their minds, they disappeared in a cloud of black smoke.


Uncle Moses and Dad looked at each other, shook their heads, and sighed. 


I don't understand. When will the children of Israel follow God's instructions? The Lord put Uncle Moses in charge.  End of discussion.


The three of us stood there, alone. The Lord called to my uncle. Dad and I waited to hear the message.  A little later, Uncle Moses walked over to me and put his arm on my shoulder. "Eleazar, the Lord wants you to pick up the censers from the fire and hammer them into plates. Put the plates on top of the altar. The plates will be a reminder to our people not to come near to the Lord to offer incense unless a member of Aaron's family. The plates will also help them remember what happened to Korah and his followers who disobeyed."


I did everything Uncle Moses asked me to do. I wonder if our people have learned who God wants as leader yet.


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1. Why did the people run away?
2. Why did the group of men stay?
3. What did God do?
4. Who did God ask to clean up the censers?
5. Who is Eleazer?

The Earth Swallowed Korah

By Mary Vee
Numbers 16:16-33

An Israelite Leader's Thoughts

Yesterday I watched Korah lead a group of our camp leaders to Moses. Even though I was a leader, he hadn't asked me to join the group. Perhaps he thought I wouldn't agree with his decision to overtake Moses' authority.  

After hearing him tell Moses that anyone from the camp could lead the Israelites, he chose right. I wouldn't have joined his group.


This morning Korah, Dathan, and Abiram along with the two hundred and fifty leaders who followed them brought golden containers called censers with incense and fire to the door of the Tabernacle. I crept near enough to hear, but not close enough to be part of the group.


Moses and Aaron joined them at the door. Aaron presented his golden censer with fire and incense. As the men stood before the Tabernacle the glory of the Lord came down on the Tabernacle.  

My heart beats wildly every time I see the cloud. To think, the glory of the Lord appears before us. I watched in silence, not knowing what the Lord would do. 


The rest of the camp crowded close to Korah's group to watch.  Moments later, the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and they fell on their face shouting something like, "O God, will You be angry with all the people because of one man's sin?" The Lord spoke to Moses again, but I'm not sure what He said.


Moses leaped to his feet. He ran to us and shouted, "Get away from the tents of these wicked men! Don't touch anything of theirs or you'll be punished with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."


Well, I ran like a rabbit with the others from our camp to a safe distance. I turned in time to see Dathan and Abiram bring their wives, sons, and children outside their tents. Moses raised his arms, with his staff in one hand and shouted, "By this you will know that the Lord has sent me to do His works: If these men die naturally, like all men, or have an accident like many men do, then the Lord has not sent me."


He raised his arms even higher and looked toward the sky. "But, if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth to swallow these men with all their belongings, and if they're buried alive, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord."


Korah, Dathan, and Abiram laughed for one short moment. Then they stopped. The earth rumbled and rolled. I grabbed onto the boulder near me and watched the ground by Korah break apart. It split deep like I've never seen before. Korah and the others grabbed onto each other to steady themselves, but it didn't help.  


The crack grew deeper and wider until Korah, Dathan, and Abiram along with everything they had fell into the earth. 

Then as quickly as the rumble started, it stopped--and they were gone. 

Just--

--like

--that. 


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1. Who told Korah and his followers to meet at the Tabernacle?
2. What were they to bring?
3. Moses said, "If_______________ then the Lord has not sent me."
4. Moses said, "But if the Lord _________ these men have been rejected by the Lord."
5. Why didn't the leader who told the story join Korah?
6. What did you learn from this story?

Korah fights Moses

By Mary Vee
Numbers 16:1-16

Moses Thoughts

Aaron and I came out of the Tabernacle and found a group of men standing there.  They looked angry, really angry.

Korah, one of the Levites stepped toward me. I knew right away he didn't have anything good to say. He didn't even wait for me to ask what was going on before blurting his message. "You take too much upon yourselves." From the look on his face, I knew he didn't care about the amount of work Aaron or I did. He had nothing but mischief in mind.

Korah glanced back at the leaders with him.  They gave him a nod and signaled him to keep talking. Korah straightened his shoulders. "Moses, haven't your realized the whole congregation is holy?  All of us. Every member of the children of Israel. You can see the Lord is among us. So, why are you setting Aaron and yourself above us as though God made the both of you the special ones?"

My heart stopped for a moment. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to talk that way. Didn't he realize the Lord heard him? I dropped to the ground and kept my face low. God could punish him and any one standing around him.

"Korah, tomorrow morning the Lord will show you and the entire camp who belongs to Him and which one is holy. He will have that person come near to Him. You and all that are with you must take a golden container. Put incense in the container and set it on fire as you stand before God. At that time, the Lord will show you who He has chosen as the holy one."

My muscles tightened with anger. How dare he challenge the Lord? I stood and glared at Korah. "You take too much on yourself, you sons of Levi!"

He shrugged his shoulders and gave me a smug look. 

That was it. I'd had it with Korah's attitude. "Listen to me, you sons of Levi: Is it such a small thing to you that the God of Israel separated you from everyone else in the camp and brought you closer to Himself? He chose you to do the work of the tabernacle and to serve the people instead of any other group. He brought you and all your families near to Himself.

"But that wasn't good enough, was it?  Now you want the priesthood, too?  You, Korah, and these men with you have come together against the Lord, Himself.  And why do you pick on Aaron, the high priest?"

I called Korah's partners Dathan and Abiram to come forward. They shouted, "We won't come. We won't listen to you."

I squeezed my staff tighter with anger. I could not allow any more disrespect.  "Lord, do not accept their offerings to you. I haven't taken anything from them, nor have I hurt them."

I had one last message for that evil man. "Korah, you and these men with you must be present before the Lord tomorrow. Aaron will stand before the Lord as well. Then you will see who the Lord has chosen."

I snapped my staff into my hand and stomped away to my tent.

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1. What did Korah want to do?
2. Why was that wrong?
3. Why did Moses fall to the ground?
4. What was the Lord going to do the next day?
5. Why was Moses angry?
6. When is it OK to be angry? (if you are not sure of this or any other answer, please ask your parents, pastor, or email me.)

Korah's Rebellion

By Mary Vee
Numbers 16:1-3A

Korah's Thoughts

It wasn't that long ago twelve spies from our camp returned from a scouting mission in the Promised Land. I must admit, the ten who told us about the giants and strong cities convinced me we wouldn't win battles against the Canaanites. No way did I want to go.

The Lord punished the ten spies for making us believe we couldn't take the land.  He rewarded Caleb and Joshua, though. Those two raised their arms and begged us to go into the land. As for me, I didn't want to go into battle knowing I'd be killed. Don't misunderstand, I prided myself on obedience. I should have been rewarded, like Joshua and Caleb. I've done most of what God said.  After all, I was a Levite.

After the ten spies died, I joined a group of men who changed their minds about going to battle for the Promised Land like God asked. We shouted our apology and said we'd go as the Lord commanded.

Moses told us not to go or send any army. He said, "The Lord made His decision. He won't change His mind. If you go, the army will lose." Why did Moses always get to boss us around? We changed our minds and decided to do what the Lord asked. Moses was an old man. He should spend time in prayer and teaching what the Lord instructs and let others lead. Others, like me.


An army decided to go to battle anyway.  Unfortunately Moses' words came true. The army lost.

That doesn't mean that Moses was the only one who could lead the children of Israel. I'm a Levite and Moses' cousin. The Lord chose my tribe to care for the Tabernacle and assist Aaron, the high priest, with his needs. My tribe held an honor other tribes didn't have. I could rule the children of Israel.

When Moses went to the Tabernacle some time later, I gathered two hundred and fifty leaders from our camp. These men held high positions. They joined me at a meeting place far away from the Tabernacle.  "I called you here to discuss Moses and his leadership."

One stood. "He's the Lord's chosen."

"Yes," I said.  "But, has not the Lord chosen all of us? Didn't the Lord choose the children of Israel?"

Another stood. "True, but the Lord chose Moses to be our leader."

"Maybe the Lord chose Moses for a time. He is old now and must be weary. Why couldn't others help lead the people. I am a Levite and a cousin of Moses. What about Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben? They're willing to help."

The men thought about my words and nodded.

I raised my arms. "Do we really want other nations to see us with an old leader?  They'll gather their armies to attack and turn us into slaves. I refuse to be a slave again. Join with me. I'll lead the children of Israel with the energy the Lord requires."

The men cheered.

The next morning we gathered before Moses. Dathan and Abiram stood with me in the front. "Moses, we'd like to talk to you."

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God did not want Korah to lead the people.


1.  Who did God choose to be the leader of the children of Israel?
2.  What did Korah want to do?
3.  What tribe did Korah come from?
4.  What sin did Korah plan to do?
5.  How can we know who God wants us to follow. (if you are unsure of this answer, please ask your pastor or your parents)