"The Perils of Rebellion: Understanding Korah's Downfall"

0:00 Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm so excited to continue our series, The Games We Play With God. Today's episode is called Rebellion Against God's Order. Rebellion is a dangerous game to play with God. It often begins very subtly, but it can lead to spiritual, emotional, and relational chaos. So today we're going to explore the story of Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16 and how God and how rejecting God's authority impacts our lives and even the people around us.

0:49 You know, when I first read this Korah story, Korah, if you read it, read the whole story. It's in Numbers 16, verses 1 through 35. You can see giving you a little heads up before I get into it because I won't be able to read the whole story. But you see here in Numbers 16 that God gave Korah and his crew. I call it in his crew because a lot of times we don't rebel alone. We rebel in a crew. We get some people who listen to our story or our sad story about a leader. It could be a leader in a church. It could be a leader in the nation. It could be a friend or a foe. And we'll get a crew together.

1:30 And then what happens is we just get things started and it can roll out of control sometimes. But we have to check that that's a leader. God may have put him in control, put him in that position over you. And so you might want to pray to God for him about what's going on, because maybe he's trying to do something in your life to get some of that pride and jealousy, some of the things we spoke about in the earlier series from series one, two, and three. So on series this year in our fourth episode here, let's go check on and see what Korah, what God has to say about the rebellion of Korah.

2:13 So it says our focus today is number 16, 1 through 35, like I said. So here's a quick summary. Korah along with Datham, Abram, and 250 other leaders. So Korah was a leader, Datham, Abram, and Abram, not Abraham, Abram, A-B-I-R-A-M, and 250 other leaders. They already had a job in this kingdom, in this Israelite kingdom. They were Levites. So they had something powerful to do, but they were so focused on Moses. Let's keep reading. Challenged Moses and Aaron's leadership. They accused Moses of exalting himself above the assembly of the Lord. But Moses made it clear.

2:59 That it wasn't about him, that it was divine order, God's divine order. Korah's rebellion wasn't just against Moses. It was against God himself. The consequences were severe. The earth opened up and swallowed Korah, his followers, and their families. And so this is an interesting story. Korah thought Moses was thinking of himself too highly. He did not want, he thought that maybe he should be the ruler. But we find out here that God said, no, no, no, you are stepping out of line.

3:42 And God judged them all. And so, like I said, sometimes you have to be careful who you're listening to, who you're hanging with. because when you read the story, you find out that there was time for them to repent. God gave them another day to get their stuff together. That's how patient God is. He told Moses, he said, Moses told Korah, you know what, come back tomorrow and bring the incense. If God really honors your word and if I was wrong, then he's going to light that incense. And lo and behold, nothing got lit, and it was a terrible story.

4:23 But a lot of times our rebellion doesn't just affect just us. It affects our families. So we see here in this quick summary that the followers and their families were killed. The earth opened up, swaddled them. So they were pretty much buried alive because of their rebellion. Let's go to Numbers 16, verse 11. It says, It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?

5:04 Rebellion isn't just defiance against human authority. is defiance against God-established authority. When we reject God's order, we invite chaos into our lives and relationships. You always have to be careful who you're talking about and who you're gathering around as your audience. You can ask the Holy Ghost, Holy Ghost, God, my lips. And even if you don't, you can feel that feeling in your belly, your gut that you are coughing up or you're getting ready to go down some unholy trails, so you might want to just check yourself.

5:47 Reflection question, where in your life are you resisting God's authority or the leaders he's placed over you? Before I came on to do the recording, I was just asking myself the same question because a lot of times you have your way, you want to do things, and then the leader has his way of doing things. So you quietly rebel by not showing up at the meetings because, you know, I don't want to show up at the meeting. You're not even doing it my way. Is that kind of a rebellion that you're doing? Are you resisting God's authority because they're not following your way? Something to ask yourself. So we have to always check ourselves on our rebellion.

6:29 And it's like a little kid. When you're two years old, when they're two years old, they rebel out loud. But as adults, we rebel quietly. Some of us do. We just don't do things. We don't do it the way we used to. We just stop. You stop going to church. You stop attending meetings. You stop speaking up. You just totally just stop. You just disappear into the woodwork. It's a quiet rebellion. Everybody's asking, where's Connie? Where she ain't been around? Connie's over here rebelling quietly. Not fussing, just quietly rebelling. Rebelling, right? And so that's not what you want to do. You want to invite God into your life, not chaos, right?

7:16 And so what is the root of rebellion? Rebellion often starts with pride, jealousy, or dissatisfaction. Korah and his followers felt entitled to positions of power that God hasn't assigned to them. James 3.16 reads, for where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil practices. So whenever there's envy and selfishness happening, you will find disorder in every evil practice. So take a look around in your job or your workplace, your church, your groups that you're in.

8:03 Whenever there's this fight for the top, whenever there's envy and selfishness happening, there's always this thread of disorder and evil practice. Rebellion isn't just about outward actions. I just mentioned this. It's about the condition of our hearts. It reveals a lack of trust in God's plan and a desire to take control on our own terms. Isn't that interesting? That we're not going to make a big deal about it, but we are making a big deal about it secretly in our hearts. Our heart has sat down and we decided that we're going to rebel quietly.

8:46 And secretly all attention does go to you because you decided not to attend a meeting and maybe they wanted to award you with something, but you won't be there because you're secretly rebelling, right? And so you're just, I'm not going because it's not happening the way I want it to happen. I'm preaching to myself here. Hello. All right. And so what are the dangers of rebellion? Rebellion has far-reaching consequences. So let's break it down. Number one, it disrupts the community. Coral rebellion caused division among the Israelites. Rebellion doesn't just affect us. It creates chaos in families, churches, and communities.

9:32 So you always find that one person, maybe there's two, sometimes there's two, that are always complaining, saying sidestep underneath their breath, and just something. And so if you gather with them, you can kind of moan and complain with them. Or you can say, what did you say? Why are you saying that? You know, I mean, you don't have to even be here with that attitude. You can be kind of that bold person because it's disrupting. You're sitting there in church, and you got this person. I don't even like the way they saw it. And you brought that into the church, right? You brought that into the meeting. You brought that into the workplace. So it disrupt the unity that was already happening because you're sitting there with your little attitude coming in there to disrupt this peace.

10:23 Number two, it leads to judgment. God's response to choral rebellion was swift and severe. While we live under the grace through Christ, rebellion still carries spiritual and practical consequences. We talked about that in another episode, that even though you may repent for your sins, there are still some consequences for your rebellion. But you see, God gave Korah and his crew extra time to get it right, but they didn't. And it cost their lives and the lives of their family. And if you read the story, some of the Israelites were like that, so it was hard.

11:05 And some of them, who even though they weren't in the crew, they secretly sided with the crew, and they died also. And so there was a plague among them. So you really have to be careful, because a lot of times we kind of vicariously kind of rebel, because we're not in the crew, but we were bearing with them, secretly watching, seeing where they get away with it. And then all of a sudden we shift over there. Our hearts are already there and it takes just one little shift and they might leave the church and boom, you're right there with them, agreeing with them. Number three, it blocks blessings. When we rebel, we distance ourselves from God's provision and protection.

11:49 Submission in his order positions us to receive his blessings. So how do we, what are the dangers of rebellion? It disrupts the community. It leads to judgment and it blocks blessings. So when we rebel, when it blocks blessings, we're no longer protected by God and we're no longer allowing God's provision to assist us. So we have to just be very careful with that. James 4, 7 reads. So submission happens first pretty much in our hearts. And as we submit to God, then we have that power to resist the devil. And then and only then does the devil flee from you.

12:39 Submission to God's authority protects us from the enemy's schemes. So how do you overcome the spirit of rebellion? How do we stop playing this dangerous game of rebellion? There's three practical steps. Number one, recognizing God's sovereignty. Trust that God knows best, even when you don't understand his plans. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Lord, that's in Isaiah 55, 8. Number two, pray for a submissive heart. Ask God to soften your heart and align your desires with his will.

13:22 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. So when you have a hard heart, you got, Lord, help me unsoften my heart. Help my heart be submissive. And that can be just from some damage that's done from other things, right? I don't want to kind of hold on to this stubbornness, this rebellion, because it feels good for one, but it doesn't look good to God. And so number three, honor God's established authority. Remember, they were put in that place for a reason, whether you like them or not. We have all kinds of excuses why I don't want to go because I don't like him or her.

14:03 We all said that. But we got to realize that God has put these people in these positions. Whether it's in your family, your workplace, or church, honor the leaders God has placed over you. Submission isn't about weakness. It's about trusting God's wisdom. So how do we stop playing the game of rebellion? We recognize God's sovereignty that he knows best. We ask God to soften our heart. Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me was a prayer that David prayed. So ask God to help you with your heart. And a lot of times he'll let you know.

14:46 Or I need help with this one. Just ask, I need help with this. This is not going to be an easy one. I need some help with this. That's Psalms 51.10. And number three, honor God's established order. Whoever God puts above you, that's the order he wants you to humble yourself to. He didn't put you in that position, so that means you're not the one in charge. All right, let's do some decrees to break free from rebellion. So let's declare some truth together to break free from rebellion. I decree that I will submit to God's authority and trust his plans for my life. I decree that I will honor the leaders God has placed over me.

15:29 I decree that my heart is free from pride, envy, and selfish abvention. I don't know if I can't say that word. So what are we going to learn this week? Or just to stay. I encourage you to reflect on areas where you might be resisting God's authority. Ask yourself, am I trusting God's timing and leadership in my life? How can I better honor the people God has placed in position of authority? Practical challenge that you can do to test that. Identify one area where you have been resistant to submission, whether it's in a relationship, a task, or a calling.

16:11 And commit to surrendering it to God this week. Wow, what is that thing that you've been resisting? God said, submit to it that week. You don't have to do it alone. He said, you can ask for help. Lord, help me to resist to that thing that I have been resisting. That's keeping my provisions and my protection from you. Holding you hostage until I get my act together, to get my humility together. So let's just pray. Heavenly Father, I just thank you for your divine order and wisdom. Forgive us for the times we have resisted your authority or the leaders you've placed over us.

16:55 Teach us to trust you fully and to walk in submission, knowing that your plans are always for our good. Remove pride, envy, and rebellion from our hearts. And fill us with peace and humility. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. I want to thank you all for joining me on this episode of The Games We Play With God. If today's message has encouraged you, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And subscribe so you don't miss the next episode where we will discuss testing God's patience. So until next time, stay humble, stay submitted, and be blessed.