READ: Numbers 16:25-33
Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.
Isaiah 41:11-12
Dathan and Abiram seemed to be saying the right things, but they were wrong. If you go deeper, you will find out that thousands of people died, in the wilderness because of their sin (Exodus 32) and not because of Moses’ failure at good leadership.
You will find out that the delay in accomplishing the goal of reaching the Promised Land was because of the murmuring of people like Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 14:23-35). The accusation of Dathan and Abiram was about to boomerang and strike back at them.
So shall it be to all those who rise up to rebuke their fathers, their pastors and their prophets. The same poisonous snakes that they released against their fathers shall bite them. The snake shall be charmed and enchanted and shall return mysteriously to the mouth and the stomach, from where it was released. It shall bite the feet of the novice that exalted himself against his father who laid hands on him.
You can see the response of Almighty God to Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Their words, though seeming to contain truth, were nonsense in the presence of God. Almighty God disposed of them with one swipe. Their words, their accusations, their allegations and their denunciation of Moses did not count. They had no value before the God of truth. God who sees in secret knows what is true and what is just. Death came to these men who did not fear to rebuke the prophet, Moses.
“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. 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” (Numbers 16:32-33).