Numbers 16:15-19: a reflection

15Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.” 16Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company go before the LORD, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17Each man take his censer and put incense on it, and each man bring before the LORD his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each with his censer.” 18They each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19Korah assembled all the congregation opposite them to the door of the Tent of Meeting. The LORD’s glory appeared to all the congregation.

When Korah and his company rebel against Moses and Aaron, their complaint is really a grasping for a position God had not given them. Korah, a Levite, was not content with the significant service God had assigned him; he wanted the priesthood as well, the honor and role reserved for Aaron. His rebellion was, at bottom, a discontent with his own God-given place and a grasping for an honor God had not given him. He would not accept the role God had assigned, but reached for one that was not his, presuming on a position and honor God had not appointed to him. The rebellion grew from a heart that grasped for what God had not given.

Notice the root of Korah's rebellion: grasping for a position and honor God had not given him. He had a real and significant place in God's service as a Levite; but he was not content with it. He wanted more, the priesthood, the honor reserved for others, a position God had not assigned to him. His discontent with his own place drove him to grasp for one that was not his, to presume on an honor God had not given. Rather than accepting and serving faithfully in the place God had appointed, he reached for a higher one, and this grasping was the seed of his rebellion. The grasping for a position and honor not given him was Korah's downfall; discontent with his place drove him to reach for what was not his.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can grasp for a position or honor God has not given us, discontented with our place. We can be discontent with the place and role God has given us, coveting a higher position, a greater honor, a role that is not ours, and grasping for it, as Korah grasped for the priesthood. But the grasping for what God has not given is a dangerous discontent; it was Korah's downfall. There is peace in accepting and serving faithfully in the place God has given, rather than grasping for a higher one. Do not grasp for a position or honor God has not given you, discontented with your place; accept and serve faithfully where God has placed you. Accept and serve faithfully in the place and role God has given you rather than grasping for a position or honor he has not given, as Korah's discontent drove him to reach for the priesthood that was not his; for grasping for what God has not appointed to us is a dangerous discontent, and there is peace in faithfully serving where God has placed us rather than reaching for what is not ours.

Lord, when Korah and his company rebel against Moses and Aaron, their complaint is really a grasping for a position you had not given them. Korah, a Levite, was not content with the significant service you had assigned him; he wanted the priesthood as well, the honor and role reserved for Aaron. His rebellion was, at bottom, a discontent with his own God-given place and a grasping for an honor you had not given him. Show me the root of Korah's rebellion: grasping for a position and honor you had not given him. He had a real and significant place in your service as a Levite; but he was not content with it. He wanted more, a position you had not assigned to him. His discontent with his own place drove him to grasp for one that was not his, to presume on an honor you had not given. Rather than accepting and serving faithfully in the place you had appointed, he reached for a higher one, and this grasping was the seed of his rebellion. Take that to my heart, for I too can grasp for a position or honor you have not given me, discontented with my place. I can be discontent with the place and role you have given me, coveting a higher position, a greater honor, a role that is not mine, and grasping for it, as Korah grasped for the priesthood. But the grasping for what you have not given is a dangerous discontent. There is peace in accepting and serving faithfully in the place you have given. Keep me from grasping for a position or honor you have not given me, discontented with my place; help me accept and serve faithfully where you have placed me, Lord, rather than reaching for what is not mine, as Korah's discontent drove him to reach for the priesthood.