Trapped

I want to introduce you to a Bible character named Korah. Korah’s story, more specifically his rebellion, is found in Numbers 16. Korah was dissatisfied with God’s election of Moses and Aaron as leaders of the nomadic nation. Korah’s rebellion persuaded 250 Israelite men to question the authenticity and validity of Moses’ leadership. As a result, Moses gave this rebellious group a chance to present their case.  

God showed up and vindicated His chosen leaders. However, the consequences of Korah’s rebellion were fatal. “The ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions” (Numbers 16:31-31). Why is this story significant to me, and what implication does it have for us? The overarching story reflects redemption because later on in Scripture, we are greeted by musicians known as the Sons of Korah. These psalmists influenced one of the most endearing songs to contemporary Christian music—As the Deer.  
As a kid, I loved to sing “As the Deer.” The words and melodies of that psalm were sweet to my soul. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God” (Psalm 42:1-2)? 
There is a thirst for righteousness here, a desire to fill the soul with God. As a Bible teacher in academy, I continuously reminded my students that the only person who could fill their God-sized hole was Jesus.

The Sons of Korah teach us three valuable lessons. The first is that family history does not define or control us. We are free moral agents and can decide how we will live. The second lesson is that God is big enough to cover past, present, and future hurts that threaten to demoralize our character. The final lesson is we are all hungry and thirsty for Jesus—even if we don’t know it. Our souls’ pant and thirst for living water; settling for anything or anyone other than Jesus is detrimental to the health and longevity of our souls.