This is a simplified version of the Bible story found in Numbers 16, written for children to understand. For the original version, please refer to the Bible passage.
Once upon a time, a man named Korah and some of his friends got together and decided they didn’t like the leader, Moses. They didn’t think he should be in charge because they thought everyone was just as important as him. They thought they should be the leaders instead. So they went to Moses and said, “You’ve gone too far! We should all be in charge, not just you and your brother Aaron.”
Korah and his friends were not the only ones who were upset with Moses. There were 250 other leaders who joined in and agreed with Korah. They were well-known and respected men, and they felt that Moses and Aaron were exalting themselves above the rest of the people. They complained that everyone in the congregation was holy, and the Lord was among them. They believed that Moses and Aaron should not be the only ones to have power and authority.
Moses knew that God had chosen him to be the leader, so he fell on his face and prayed to God. God told Moses to have everyone bring their incense burners and put fire and incense in them. God would then show everyone who He had chosen to lead them.
Moses was not happy with what Korah and his friends were doing. He was very angry because they were questioning God’s decision to make him the leader. Moses had never wanted to be the leader in the first place, but he accepted the role because God had called him to it. He knew that it was not his own doing, but rather the will of God.
The Lord responded to Moses’ prayer and showed everyone who He had chosen. The ground opened up and swallowed Korah, his friends, and all their things. The people who were on Korah’s side also burned with fire from God. It was a very serious punishment from God.
The next day, the people of Israel grumbled again against Moses and Aaron. This time, the Lord’s anger was very great, and He was ready to punish the people again. But Moses and Aaron pleaded with God to spare the people. Aaron quickly made atonement for the people who had sinned against God. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was stopped.
Biblical Lessons
- We should respect the leaders that God has chosen for us.
- God will always take care of those who are faithful to Him.
- We should not rebel against the authority that God has put in place.