Open Heaven 30 October 2025: Run From Rebels
MEMORISE: God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. Psalms 68:6
READ: Numbers 16:1-35:
1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sonsof Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:
17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan,and Abiram.
25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wickedmen, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earthswallow us up also.
35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Read Other Open Heaven Devotional Here
Today’s Bible reading is a sad story with many important lessons. It is a sad story because many people died avoidable deaths by joining a rebel to gang up against Moses, the man of God. The Bible reading begins by telling us that Korah and two brothers, Dathan and Abiram, came together to confront Moses.
If you study the story carefully, you will see that the rebellion began with Korah because in many verses of the chapter, the words ‘Korah and his company’ were used. Just one man started a rebellion that killed about fifteen thousand people. Rebellion is deadly!
The story might have played out differently if the other people mentioned in the chapter had refused to join Korah in the rebellion when he approached them. They should have discouraged him from being rebellious and counselled him to honour Moses. God can speak to anyone, but He doesn’t choose everyone to lead His people or be at the forefront of His move. If Korah had understood the sacred office that Moses occupied, maybe he wouldn’t have incited a rebellion against him.
Today, there are also rebels in the body of Christ. They think that they know more than the spiritual leaders God placed over them and often believe that they should be at the forefront of what God is doing. If God has not called you into a particular office in His church, don’t try to bring those who occupy such offices down.
Also, don’t try to operate in an office that God has not called you into because you will only expose yourself to danger. King Uzziah became leprous because he tried to function in an office God had not called him into (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). When people rebel against God’s ordained hierarchy, they become stranded in life.
We live in a generation where some young people think they have enough revelation from God’s word to speak against the spiritual elders in the church. When some of them have a large social media following, they begin to think that they have attained a notable spiritual height and can say anything they like to anyone. Popularity and social media followership are, however, not the same as spiritual authority.
Beloved, if there are rebels around you, run far away from them so that you do not partake in their judgement. Also, if you have been speaking disrespectfully against those that God has given the authority to lead the church, repent now. Rebellion is dangerous, and it never profits anyone.
REFLECTION
Are you supporting or keeping company with rebels?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Luke 21-22
Open Heaven 30 October 2025
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