ARE YOU SEEKING THE PRIESTHOOD ALSO?
8 THEN MOSES SAID TO KORAH, “HEAR NOW, YOU SONS OF LEVI:
9 Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, TO BRING YOU NEAR TO HIMSELF, TO DO THE WORK OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE LORD, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE CONGREGATION TO SERVE THEM;
10 AND THAT HE HAS BROUGHT YOU NEAR TO HIMSELF, YOU AND ALL YOUR BRETHREN, THE SONS OF LEVI, WITH YOU? AND ARE YOU SEEKING THE PRIESTHOOD ALSO?
11 THEREFORE YOU AND ALL YOUR COMPANY ARE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD. AND WHAT IS AARON THAT YOU COMPLAIN AGAINST HIM?”
Numbers 16:8-11 (NKJV)
Korah who belongs to the tribe of Levi and a group of other people, about two hundred and fifty of them, renown leaders, and a number of others from the tribe of Reuben rose against Moses and Aaron challenging their leadership (Numbers 16:1-3). One of the things they accused Moses and Aaron of was that they were taking too much upon themselves, trying to lord It over the people of God. That the whole congregation are holy and God is with them (Numbers 16:1-3).
What happened in the passage is a common phenomenon or observable fact or event in the place where there is gathering of people in which someone is appointed to lead. There would always be a group of people who would resist order and would not want to submit to the established authority. If you do not understand authorities and how to be submissive to them, the authorities ordained by God, you may have problem with God.
In the Book of Romans, we are made to understand that the authorities that exist are ordained by God. You as a believer must know how to reverence the authorities ordained and established by God:
1 LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, AND THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD. 2 THEREFORE WHOEVER RESISTS THE AUTHORITY RESISTS THE ORDINANCE OF GOD, AND THOSE WHO RESIST WILL BRING JUDGMENT ON THEMSELVES" (Romans 13:1,2 NKJV).
In every sphere of human life, there are God's delegated authorities. There are authorities in the world, the governing authority, those in government (1 Peter 2:13-15), and there are authorities in the church, those ordained to lead the people of God (Hebrews 13:7,17), and there are authorities in the family, the parents, and mainly the father, ordained to lead the home or family (Ephesians 5:22-24; 6:1-3). These authorities are appointed and ordained by God. He delegated His power or authority to them, thus, they are representing Him, God. An affront to any authority is an affront or insult to God. In other words, If you rebelled against a leader, you are indirectly rebelling against God, because they represent Him.
The people, Korah and others, who rose against Moses and Aaron said they, Moses and Aaron, were taking too much on themselves. In other words, they exalted and arrogated or appropriated to themselves the power or authority that was not given to them by God and were doing what they were not commanded by Him to do (Numbers 16:3). This was a strong allegation made against Moses and Aaron but all they were doing about the leading of the people, the whole congregation, were commanded by God. Before any step would be taken, they, Moses in particular, would ask from God. Whatever that is new to them and would not understand or know how to handle, they would tell the people to wait until they have inquired from God on how to go by it (Numbers 15:32-36).
It could be deduced through what Moses said in our text that the people were not fighting for the interest of the people, the whole congregation, they were fighting for leadership, priesthood—especially those who are Levites among them (Numbers 16:8-10). They were not satisfied with the assignment given to them by God.
Out of the tribe of Levi that were separated to minister to God, Aaron and his family were consecrated into priesthood, they were to go before God, representing and presenting the oblations or sacrifices of the people to God (Hebrews 5:1-4; 9:1-7). This did not go down well with some other parts or sections of the Levite's family or tribe, thus, they stood and rebelled against the leadership of Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:8-11).
This thing, rebellion against the leadership or authority, has happened again and again in the gathering of the people of God, likewise in the world. Now, a few number of things to be noted and learned from the incident or passage:
a. Whatever position or office you are assigned or given to serve, be satisfied with it, do not covet or aspire to unseat the person appointed to be the overall head or leader. The whole reason for the rebellion was that others among the Levites were not satisfied to just serve in the tabernacle without serving in the priesthood office, they also wanted to appear before God (Numbers 16:10).
This same issue is found happening in the church of Christ Jesus today. A number of those who usually break away to found or establish their own churches are not mainly led by God to do that, but when they think or feel that they know better than the person leading them, they would decide to gather mini congregation out of the major congregation and break away to found their own church or ministry. Of course, they would be able to convince a number of people who would buy into what they are doing and support them to do it—rebelled against the leadership or authority and move out of the church or ministry without being released properly.
That being said, we cannot rule out the fact that there are those who are genuinely led to move out of where they are and start or pioneer a new work, church or ministry; however, there are some who left out of envy, rebellion, and unsubmissive.
Be satisfied with whatever God has appointed or given you to do in His vineyard or work. What you are not appointed or assigned or ordained to do, do not assume to do it. Know that what you are not assigned to do, the anointing to do it would not be on your life. If you are not assigned or called to lead or be a pastor, do not take it upon yourself (Hebrews 5:4-6). You do not take the honour of priesthood on yourself if you are not assigned or ordained by God to be one.
Note:
God rewards faithfulness, not the office or position. Whatever you are assigned to do, either to be the overall leader or to assist, as in the ministry of help; all that is required of you is faithfulness: "MOREOVER IT IS REQUIRED IN STEWARDS THAT ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL" (1 Corinthians 4:2 NKJV).
God would not give a bigger reward to someone because he or she is the general overseer or the prelate or bishop, but the reward would be based on the faithfulness of the person: "FOR THE SON OF MAN WILL COME IN THE GLORY OF HIS FATHER WITH HIS ANGELS, AND THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS" (Matthew 16:27 NKJV).
READ: 2 Corinthians 5:10
The reward would not be according to the office held or position occupied but according to your work, what you are assigned to do. God would not reward you for what you are not assigned to do which you dabble into or assigned yourself to do because of envy.
Note: what you are not assigned to do, the anointing to do it would not be on your life. God anoints with a purpose, thus, the anointing on your life would be according to what you are assigned or ordained or called to do. There is no point striving to be what you are not ordained or anointed to be. Be submissive to the delegated authority under which God has placed you.
You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace.