And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron together when the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram reached its climax after Korah had gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle and the glory of the Lord appeared. He told them to separate themselves from among the gathered congregation so that He might consume the rebels in a moment for rising against His appointed leadership. Upon hearing this they fell on their faces and pleaded with Him as the God of the spirits of all flesh not to be angry with the whole congregation for the sin of one. Their rebellion against Moses and Aaron was rebellion against Jehovah Himself, repeating on a narrower stage the pride, ambition, and self-exaltation of Satan in heaven. The threat to consume was also an appeal giving opportunity to repent, and the history is preserved as a warning against unbelief, rebellion, and apostasy for God's people in the last days.
Setting and Immediate Sequence
The Lord speaks to both Moses and Aaron as the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against their authority reaches its climax. The address comes within the events that lead to judgment on the rebel leaders, before judgment falls upon them. Their resistance to appointed counsel and confidence in their own judgment stands as a warning against rejecting the message sent through them.
The speaking comes directly after Korah, in exalted self-confidence, gathered all the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the door of the tabernacle, when the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. The Lord responds to the rebellion at that moment, speaking to both leaders as judgment is about to fall. The message that follows tells Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from among the gathered congregation so that He might consume the rebels in a moment as punishment for rebellion against His appointed leadership. Upon hearing this, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and interceded, pleading with God as the God of the spirits of all flesh not to be angry with the whole congregation for one man's sin.
God then directed that the congregation be warned to get away from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and to depart from the tents of those wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, lest they be consumed in their sins. The rebellion was extended and involved more than its leading men, including two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. Judgment followed close upon the sin, for God stretched forth His hand and swallowed up the wrongdoers while the people fled in horror to their tents, and those who joined the rebellion died before the Lord by plague.
The aftermath shows the people eventually recognized their rebellion against that authority as sin against the Lord, acknowledged that Korah and those who perished with him had justly suffered God's wrath, and feared they too would die in the wilderness rather than enter the promised land. Yet even after the marked judgment the survivors falsely accused Moses of killing the Lord's people, showing how stubborn rebellion can deceive the mind. At Kadesh the next generation, when water failed, murmured against Moses and Aaron and wished they had died with those brethren who had died by plague.
Nature of the Rebellion
The rising against Moses and Aaron was not rising against men like themselves but against Jehovah Himself. To oppose His appointed burden-bearers was to oppose plain testimony and reproof of wrong, as if their counsels and reproofs were uncalled for and self-exalting. That resistance included warring against straight testimony concerning hurtful indulgences such as tea, coffee, snuff, and tobacco in order to protect idols of appetite.
By rejecting God's chosen instruments they rejected Christ, their invisible leader. Contempt for Moses and Aaron was contempt for the word of the Lord and an insult to the Spirit of God. It was not the messengers who were despised but God and the message He sends, while He stood by His appointed workers.
On a narrower stage the rebellion repeated the rebellion of Satan in heaven. Pride and ambition had prompted Lucifer to complain against the government of God and to seek the overthrow of the order established in heaven, and since his fall he seeks to infuse the same envy and discontent and the same ambition for position and honor into men. He worked on Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to arouse desire for self-exaltation and to excite envy, distrust, and rebellion, causing them to reject God as their leader by rejecting the men of God's appointment. While murmuring against Moses and Aaron they blasphemed God, yet were so deluded as to think themselves righteous and to regard those who faithfully reproved their sins as actuated by Satan. They acted under a wizard-like moral infatuation that steels hearts against the influence of the Holy Spirit, placing themselves in Satan's power by their own consent.
The chapter teaches that service mixed with self-will will not endure, while work done in God will. Only the holy fire kindled by God is safe. The course of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram was inward corruption and war against God's work covered by an outward religious garb. It was a pattern of self-righteous opposition and misrepresentation and a selfish and fraudulent course whose outcome is disastrous, with those who follow it marked by God and finally rewarded according to their deeds.
Their method was first to gain the sympathy and confidence of souls perishing for truth who will accept almost anyone who can explain the Scriptures. Then they insinuated against appointed leadership, telling a deceptive story that they were abused men when the abuse and imposition was on the other side. Thus they sowed seeds of doubt against those God would have the people trust and have confidence in as the leaders He wanted, and these wicked men gained many sympathizers. Their party stands for those who accuse and condemn those on whom God has placed the burden of His work. Such separate from the church and draw people away by division and independent action, cling to rebellious leaders, set themselves against God's appointed leadership, the work of the third angel, and the visions, and use the errors of some in the church to build themselves up.
Mercy Amid Threatened Judgment
The word to Moses and Aaron to separate themselves so the congregation might be consumed in a moment came while the congregation persisted in rebellion after witnessing judgment, and that threat itself was an appeal that gave opportunity to repent. The restraint shown at that moment displays long-suffering toward grievous offenders and willingness to forgive all who return with repentance and humility.
The judgment pronounced could still have been stayed if Korah and his company had repented and sought forgiveness. God distinguished between the leaders who instigated the rebellion and the Israelites who were deceived or led by them, pitying those misled through ignorance and folly even while jealousy, suspicion, and hatred had brought His displeasure upon the congregation. Because clear evidence had been given that their course was sinful and that Moses was right, the people were granted time to reflect, repent, and confess.
Opposition and disaffection cannot destroy a work that is of God, for it will live and survive such resistance. By His intervention in this crisis He sustained Aaron in the priestly office to which He had appointed him. That sustaining led on to judgment upon Korah's company and to the later confirmation of Aaron through the budding rod.
Warning for the Last Days
The record of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram belongs to the last days as a preserved warning against unbelief, rebellion, and apostasy for the people upon whom the ends of the world are come. It stands as a lesson not to follow their example of tempting Christ and murmuring, a course that brought destruction by serpents and by the destroyer. The rebellion involved more than its leading men, for it drew in two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation.
It is to be read carefully and prayerfully, calling for genuine repentance rather than repeated, unwise resistance to God. Its confusion warns that the history will be repeated whenever Scripture and God's warnings are misinterpreted and misused to support human theories.
Genuine rebellion is hardly ever curable and must be called rebellion and apostasy by its right name. The ancient experience with all its objectionable features was faithfully chronicled to pass into history for admonition, warning against separation from the great Leader so as to take the great leader of apostasy and name him Christ our Righteousness. It warns against failing to distinguish the false from the genuine and the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger when false prophets come with heresies to deceive if possible the very elect. It warns against leaving it to two men and their wives to undeceive the whole church after more than half a century of light, and the church thus misled needs to humble itself before God and sincerely repent because it was so easily led astray.
Near the close of time Satan leads persons to imitate Korah, Dathan, and Abiram by raising insurrection among God's people. This is done by rising in opposition to plain testimony and to reproof of wrongs, thinking that God's burden-bearers exalt themselves and that their counsels and reproofs are uncalled for. It includes warring against straight testimonies against hurtful indulgences such as tea, coffee, snuff, and tobacco in order to protect idols of appetite. Those convicted remain unsettled between conviction and appetite until appetite prevails and sacred sense is perverted, and they refuse self-denial and separate from those cleansing themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. They claim the people are all right and the reproving testimonies make the trouble, and when the rebellious unfurl their banner all the disaffected and the spiritually defective, the lame, the halt, and the blind rally around it to scatter and sow discord.
The same spirit of firm self-complacency, pride, prejudice, unsanctified independence, mockery, lightness, trifling, jesting, blindness, and perverted judgment that despised Moses and Aaron acted at Minneapolis in unwillingness to accept heaven-sent light. Contempt for Moses and Aaron was contempt for the word of the Lord and insult to the Spirit of God, for it is not the messengers who are despised but God and the message He sends. The Lord desired to come near to bless and heal backsliding, but those cherishing that spirit would have no clear light to discern the preciousness of truth until they humbled pride and confessed they were not actuated by the Spirit of God. God places His workers in their proper position and promises to be with them with grace and power, never leaving nor forsaking them, bidding them stand at the post of duty. Unless every soul repents and is converted they will walk in darkness in sparks of their own kindling, the candlestick will be removed, and they shall lie down in sorrow.
The rebellion reveals what happens as soon as a man separates from God so that his heart is not under the subduing power of the Holy Spirit. Then the spirit of Korah, the attributes of Satan revealed, begins to oppress fellow men with an influence contrary to truth, justice, and righteousness. This is manifested in the desire of one institution to control all others and in men entrusted with weighty responsibilities who have no living connection with God and do despite to the Holy Spirit, to whom God sends warnings again and again that they cast aside. It stands as the background for managers who acted in a spirit of self-importance and sought control over other institutions.
It warns workers honored with a part in God's work not to think themselves equal to His appointed leader and a very essential part of the great whole, feeling that credit should be given to them and the leader should not have all the honor. Seeking credit and honor is self-exaltation rooted in self. It likewise warns against receiving precious points of truth like the Sabbath all prepared to hand at great toil of others without gratitude and then rising to reproach those upon whom God laid the burden of His work. Its history is to be studied for the admonition of those who live in these last days.
It warns against taking the course of Korah by threatening to sever all connection with brethren, pressing dishonoring terms, and going on year after year against all warnings to do according to one's own mind while refusing to hear the voice of the Lord. Such threatenings should be met with firm rectitude and determination without fear, since separation is better than consent, and the one on this ground is called to come to his senses and keep off it.
Long resistance to God's Spirit with unchanged hearts leaves people unable to distinguish holiness from sin, so those who persist in sin will face exclusion from God's work and decisive action is needed when evil workers threaten it. The experience warns that a spirit of criticism, distrust, and resistance to God's guidance can bring grave consequences among God's people. That spirit is shown in rejecting God's repeated warnings and oppressing others, in resisting God's guidance and criticizing those carrying out His work, and in opposing God's work while calling truth error, which is a serious matter.
It gives instruction appropriate for the present time to keep the whole flock from being fed with errors that cause them to go astray. It serves as a warning against following rebellion and being deceived, showing the need to take a clear position on the Lord's side rather than give influence and sympathy to those who betray a sacred trust.
Stubbornly rejecting God's appointed counsel is rebellion against God, and even a marked judgment may fail to convince those whose minds are set against it. God addressed Moses and Aaron as the rebellion reached its climax before judgment fell on the leaders, and resistance joined with confidence in human judgment warns against rejecting God's message. Even after a marked judgment the survivors falsely accused Moses of killing the Lord's people, showing how stubborn rebellion can deceive the mind. The rebellion therefore warns against resisting God's appointed messengers and rejecting the message He sends, which shows contempt for God's word and brings divine judgment, so repentance is necessary.
Duties When Rebellion Arises
Attacking fellow workers appointed by God to do His work, charging them unjustly, holding them up in a ridiculous light, and cutting off their influence and the love and fellowship of the people toward them is an offense to God like the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. When such work arises in the very midst it must be met rather than passed over in silence or left uncertain so that the people are left to think it may or may not be true. Justice to the accusers and to those misled requires speaking out openly, calling the accusers on every point to bring proof, carefully investigating every charge, lifting every unsubstantiated reproach, and undeceiving the people so nothing is left uncertain and they do not believe a lie.
The Lord speaking to Moses and to Aaron means God gave testimonies through Moses and Aaron which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram refused and labored to make of none effect, being deceived and deceiving others. Their work strengthened the hands and minds of many who quoted them, and both their own course of action and the result of their influence upon other minds is charged against them in the books of heaven to be met in the day of final accounts. By that course Korah, Dathan, and Abiram forfeited all right to claim sacred power and to present their voice as the voice of God. Claiming great light and being especially exalted of God while not obeying all the light forfeits that claim, as does mingling men's devisings and selfishness with the work, hurting God's servants, the oil and the wine, and sustaining men God cannot favor and then entrenching behind sacred authority.
God upheld Moses and Aaron as His chosen instrumentalities against distrust and rebellion. Bearing false witness against brethren, leavening minds with distrust, weakening faith in God's instrumentalities, questioning and doubting men whom God is teaching, guiding, and leading, planting the seed of doubt, and ministers manifesting no confidence in their ministering brethren repeats their spirit and brings about a similar experience of judgment. Unfaithfulness by ministers and workers in dealing with wrongdoers and guarding the cause from reproach allows such rebellious men to develop. Those who claim to believe the truth are warned not to judge from human feeling, sympathize with the wrongdoer, or stand between the offender and God when His servants do the disagreeable duty of correcting the erring.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram complained and influenced the people to stand with them in rebellion, leading to God's judgment in which He stretched forth His hand and swallowed up the wrongdoers while the people fled to their tents in horror, yet their rebellion was not cured. Those who have light and evidence but will not see or acknowledge it, who oppose God's testimony and turn others against it, will be left as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were left. They will fall into the ditch and lie down in darkness with all who join them in walking not in the light of the Lord but in the sparks of their own kindling.
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron together when the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram reached its climax after Korah had gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle and the glory of the Lord appeared. He told them to separate themselves from among the gathered congregation so that He might consume the rebels in a moment for rising against His appointed leadership. Upon hearing this they fell on their faces and pleaded with Him as the God of the spirits of all flesh not to be angry with the whole congregation for the sin of one. Their rebellion against Moses and Aaron was rebellion against Jehovah Himself, repeating on a narrower stage the pride, ambition, and self-exaltation of Satan in heaven. The threat to consume was also an appeal giving opportunity to repent, and the history is preserved as a warning against unbelief, rebellion, and apostasy for God's people in the last days.
Setting and Immediate Sequence
The Lord speaks to both Moses and Aaron as the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against their authority reaches its climax. The address comes within the events that lead to judgment on the rebel leaders, before judgment falls upon them. Their resistance to appointed counsel and confidence in their own judgment stands as a warning against rejecting the message sent through them.
The speaking comes directly after Korah, in exalted self-confidence, gathered all the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the door of the tabernacle, when the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. The Lord responds to the rebellion at that moment, speaking to both leaders as judgment is about to fall. The message that follows tells Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from among the gathered congregation so that He might consume the rebels in a moment as punishment for rebellion against His appointed leadership. Upon hearing this, Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and interceded, pleading with God as the God of the spirits of all flesh not to be angry with the whole congregation for one man's sin.
God then directed that the congregation be warned to get away from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram and to depart from the tents of those wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, lest they be consumed in their sins. The rebellion was extended and involved more than its leading men, including two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. Judgment followed close upon the sin, for God stretched forth His hand and swallowed up the wrongdoers while the people fled in horror to their tents, and those who joined the rebellion died before the Lord by plague.
The aftermath shows the people eventually recognized their rebellion against that authority as sin against the Lord, acknowledged that Korah and those who perished with him had justly suffered God's wrath, and feared they too would die in the wilderness rather than enter the promised land. Yet even after the marked judgment the survivors falsely accused Moses of killing the Lord's people, showing how stubborn rebellion can deceive the mind. At Kadesh the next generation, when water failed, murmured against Moses and Aaron and wished they had died with those brethren who had died by plague.
Nature of the Rebellion
The rising against Moses and Aaron was not rising against men like themselves but against Jehovah Himself. To oppose His appointed burden-bearers was to oppose plain testimony and reproof of wrong, as if their counsels and reproofs were uncalled for and self-exalting. That resistance included warring against straight testimony concerning hurtful indulgences such as tea, coffee, snuff, and tobacco in order to protect idols of appetite.
By rejecting God's chosen instruments they rejected Christ, their invisible leader. Contempt for Moses and Aaron was contempt for the word of the Lord and an insult to the Spirit of God. It was not the messengers who were despised but God and the message He sends, while He stood by His appointed workers.
On a narrower stage the rebellion repeated the rebellion of Satan in heaven. Pride and ambition had prompted Lucifer to complain against the government of God and to seek the overthrow of the order established in heaven, and since his fall he seeks to infuse the same envy and discontent and the same ambition for position and honor into men. He worked on Korah, Dathan, and Abiram to arouse desire for self-exaltation and to excite envy, distrust, and rebellion, causing them to reject God as their leader by rejecting the men of God's appointment. While murmuring against Moses and Aaron they blasphemed God, yet were so deluded as to think themselves righteous and to regard those who faithfully reproved their sins as actuated by Satan. They acted under a wizard-like moral infatuation that steels hearts against the influence of the Holy Spirit, placing themselves in Satan's power by their own consent.
The chapter teaches that service mixed with self-will will not endure, while work done in God will. Only the holy fire kindled by God is safe. The course of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram was inward corruption and war against God's work covered by an outward religious garb. It was a pattern of self-righteous opposition and misrepresentation and a selfish and fraudulent course whose outcome is disastrous, with those who follow it marked by God and finally rewarded according to their deeds.
Their method was first to gain the sympathy and confidence of souls perishing for truth who will accept almost anyone who can explain the Scriptures. Then they insinuated against appointed leadership, telling a deceptive story that they were abused men when the abuse and imposition was on the other side. Thus they sowed seeds of doubt against those God would have the people trust and have confidence in as the leaders He wanted, and these wicked men gained many sympathizers. Their party stands for those who accuse and condemn those on whom God has placed the burden of His work. Such separate from the church and draw people away by division and independent action, cling to rebellious leaders, set themselves against God's appointed leadership, the work of the third angel, and the visions, and use the errors of some in the church to build themselves up.
Mercy Amid Threatened Judgment
The word to Moses and Aaron to separate themselves so the congregation might be consumed in a moment came while the congregation persisted in rebellion after witnessing judgment, and that threat itself was an appeal that gave opportunity to repent. The restraint shown at that moment displays long-suffering toward grievous offenders and willingness to forgive all who return with repentance and humility.
The judgment pronounced could still have been stayed if Korah and his company had repented and sought forgiveness. God distinguished between the leaders who instigated the rebellion and the Israelites who were deceived or led by them, pitying those misled through ignorance and folly even while jealousy, suspicion, and hatred had brought His displeasure upon the congregation. Because clear evidence had been given that their course was sinful and that Moses was right, the people were granted time to reflect, repent, and confess.
Opposition and disaffection cannot destroy a work that is of God, for it will live and survive such resistance. By His intervention in this crisis He sustained Aaron in the priestly office to which He had appointed him. That sustaining led on to judgment upon Korah's company and to the later confirmation of Aaron through the budding rod.
Warning for the Last Days
The record of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram belongs to the last days as a preserved warning against unbelief, rebellion, and apostasy for the people upon whom the ends of the world are come. It stands as a lesson not to follow their example of tempting Christ and murmuring, a course that brought destruction by serpents and by the destroyer. The rebellion involved more than its leading men, for it drew in two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation.
It is to be read carefully and prayerfully, calling for genuine repentance rather than repeated, unwise resistance to God. Its confusion warns that the history will be repeated whenever Scripture and God's warnings are misinterpreted and misused to support human theories.
Genuine rebellion is hardly ever curable and must be called rebellion and apostasy by its right name. The ancient experience with all its objectionable features was faithfully chronicled to pass into history for admonition, warning against separation from the great Leader so as to take the great leader of apostasy and name him Christ our Righteousness. It warns against failing to distinguish the false from the genuine and the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger when false prophets come with heresies to deceive if possible the very elect. It warns against leaving it to two men and their wives to undeceive the whole church after more than half a century of light, and the church thus misled needs to humble itself before God and sincerely repent because it was so easily led astray.
Near the close of time Satan leads persons to imitate Korah, Dathan, and Abiram by raising insurrection among God's people. This is done by rising in opposition to plain testimony and to reproof of wrongs, thinking that God's burden-bearers exalt themselves and that their counsels and reproofs are uncalled for. It includes warring against straight testimonies against hurtful indulgences such as tea, coffee, snuff, and tobacco in order to protect idols of appetite. Those convicted remain unsettled between conviction and appetite until appetite prevails and sacred sense is perverted, and they refuse self-denial and separate from those cleansing themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. They claim the people are all right and the reproving testimonies make the trouble, and when the rebellious unfurl their banner all the disaffected and the spiritually defective, the lame, the halt, and the blind rally around it to scatter and sow discord.
The same spirit of firm self-complacency, pride, prejudice, unsanctified independence, mockery, lightness, trifling, jesting, blindness, and perverted judgment that despised Moses and Aaron acted at Minneapolis in unwillingness to accept heaven-sent light. Contempt for Moses and Aaron was contempt for the word of the Lord and insult to the Spirit of God, for it is not the messengers who are despised but God and the message He sends. The Lord desired to come near to bless and heal backsliding, but those cherishing that spirit would have no clear light to discern the preciousness of truth until they humbled pride and confessed they were not actuated by the Spirit of God. God places His workers in their proper position and promises to be with them with grace and power, never leaving nor forsaking them, bidding them stand at the post of duty. Unless every soul repents and is converted they will walk in darkness in sparks of their own kindling, the candlestick will be removed, and they shall lie down in sorrow.
The rebellion reveals what happens as soon as a man separates from God so that his heart is not under the subduing power of the Holy Spirit. Then the spirit of Korah, the attributes of Satan revealed, begins to oppress fellow men with an influence contrary to truth, justice, and righteousness. This is manifested in the desire of one institution to control all others and in men entrusted with weighty responsibilities who have no living connection with God and do despite to the Holy Spirit, to whom God sends warnings again and again that they cast aside. It stands as the background for managers who acted in a spirit of self-importance and sought control over other institutions.
It warns workers honored with a part in God's work not to think themselves equal to His appointed leader and a very essential part of the great whole, feeling that credit should be given to them and the leader should not have all the honor. Seeking credit and honor is self-exaltation rooted in self. It likewise warns against receiving precious points of truth like the Sabbath all prepared to hand at great toil of others without gratitude and then rising to reproach those upon whom God laid the burden of His work. Its history is to be studied for the admonition of those who live in these last days.
It warns against taking the course of Korah by threatening to sever all connection with brethren, pressing dishonoring terms, and going on year after year against all warnings to do according to one's own mind while refusing to hear the voice of the Lord. Such threatenings should be met with firm rectitude and determination without fear, since separation is better than consent, and the one on this ground is called to come to his senses and keep off it.
Long resistance to God's Spirit with unchanged hearts leaves people unable to distinguish holiness from sin, so those who persist in sin will face exclusion from God's work and decisive action is needed when evil workers threaten it. The experience warns that a spirit of criticism, distrust, and resistance to God's guidance can bring grave consequences among God's people. That spirit is shown in rejecting God's repeated warnings and oppressing others, in resisting God's guidance and criticizing those carrying out His work, and in opposing God's work while calling truth error, which is a serious matter.
It gives instruction appropriate for the present time to keep the whole flock from being fed with errors that cause them to go astray. It serves as a warning against following rebellion and being deceived, showing the need to take a clear position on the Lord's side rather than give influence and sympathy to those who betray a sacred trust.
Stubbornly rejecting God's appointed counsel is rebellion against God, and even a marked judgment may fail to convince those whose minds are set against it. God addressed Moses and Aaron as the rebellion reached its climax before judgment fell on the leaders, and resistance joined with confidence in human judgment warns against rejecting God's message. Even after a marked judgment the survivors falsely accused Moses of killing the Lord's people, showing how stubborn rebellion can deceive the mind. The rebellion therefore warns against resisting God's appointed messengers and rejecting the message He sends, which shows contempt for God's word and brings divine judgment, so repentance is necessary.
Duties When Rebellion Arises
Attacking fellow workers appointed by God to do His work, charging them unjustly, holding them up in a ridiculous light, and cutting off their influence and the love and fellowship of the people toward them is an offense to God like the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. When such work arises in the very midst it must be met rather than passed over in silence or left uncertain so that the people are left to think it may or may not be true. Justice to the accusers and to those misled requires speaking out openly, calling the accusers on every point to bring proof, carefully investigating every charge, lifting every unsubstantiated reproach, and undeceiving the people so nothing is left uncertain and they do not believe a lie.
The Lord speaking to Moses and to Aaron means God gave testimonies through Moses and Aaron which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram refused and labored to make of none effect, being deceived and deceiving others. Their work strengthened the hands and minds of many who quoted them, and both their own course of action and the result of their influence upon other minds is charged against them in the books of heaven to be met in the day of final accounts. By that course Korah, Dathan, and Abiram forfeited all right to claim sacred power and to present their voice as the voice of God. Claiming great light and being especially exalted of God while not obeying all the light forfeits that claim, as does mingling men's devisings and selfishness with the work, hurting God's servants, the oil and the wine, and sustaining men God cannot favor and then entrenching behind sacred authority.
God upheld Moses and Aaron as His chosen instrumentalities against distrust and rebellion. Bearing false witness against brethren, leavening minds with distrust, weakening faith in God's instrumentalities, questioning and doubting men whom God is teaching, guiding, and leading, planting the seed of doubt, and ministers manifesting no confidence in their ministering brethren repeats their spirit and brings about a similar experience of judgment. Unfaithfulness by ministers and workers in dealing with wrongdoers and guarding the cause from reproach allows such rebellious men to develop. Those who claim to believe the truth are warned not to judge from human feeling, sympathize with the wrongdoer, or stand between the offender and God when His servants do the disagreeable duty of correcting the erring.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram complained and influenced the people to stand with them in rebellion, leading to God's judgment in which He stretched forth His hand and swallowed up the wrongdoers while the people fled to their tents in horror, yet their rebellion was not cured. Those who have light and evidence but will not see or acknowledge it, who oppose God's testimony and turn others against it, will be left as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were left. They will fall into the ditch and lie down in darkness with all who join them in walking not in the light of the Lord but in the sparks of their own kindling.