“To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.”
In this verse, Moses instructs the Israelites to keep the censers used by the rebels as a memorial. These censers were used for offering incense before the Lord. This instruction served as a reminder for future generations that only the descendants of Aaron, the high priest, were authorized by God to offer incense in the Tabernacle or later in the Temple.
The context of this verse is crucial to understanding its significance. Prior to this event, Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 other leaders, rebelled against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, claiming that they should also have the privilege of offering incense before the Lord. God, however, made it clear that He had specifically chosen Aaron and his descendants to serve as priests (Exodus 28:1, Numbers 16:5).
To emphasize this point, God enacted a dramatic judgment. He caused the ground to open up and swallow Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their households. Fire from the Lord also consumed the 250 rebels who had offered incense unauthorizedly. This act of judgment served as a warning to the rest of the Israelites, affirming the divine appointment of Aaron and his line.
By preserving the censers used by the rebels, Moses intended to serve as a memorial, reminding future generations of the severity of this rebellion and the consequences of disregarding God’s appointed authority. This instruction reinforced the exclusive role of the priests, descended from Aaron, in offering incense before the Lord.
The broader lesson we can derive from Numbers 16:40 is the importance of respecting and honoring God-ordained authority. The rebellion of Korah and his followers illustrates the dangers of challenging God’s chosen leaders. It teaches us the significance of recognizing the boundaries set by God and submitting to His appointed authorities. Disregarding God’s established order can have severe consequences.
In a broader sense, as Christians, we should heed this lesson by respecting and honoring the spiritual authority God has placed over us. We are called to submit to the leaders and shepherds within the church who are responsible for guiding and teaching us. However, this does not mean blindly following leaders; it means discerning and supporting those who align with God’s Word and His will.
