In the chronicle of Numbers 16, Korah takes center stage. He seems to be the ringleader, and for good reason—he is the one who opposes Moses directly, taking him on during the the test of censers to see who God has chosen for total leadership.
But Dathan and Abiram are there, too. Their complaint may not be as famous, but it appears to be the one that makes Moses the most furious.
What did they say? Basically the exact opposite of the truth.
First, they claim that Moses has brought them out of Egypt, which in their twisted mind, is “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 16:13). If that sounds familiar, it’s because that’s how Canaan is described (Exodus 3:8). For them to say that about Egypt shows just how rosy their glasses really are.
Second, they accuse Moses of “lording” power over them. That’s especially ironic, considering the Text takes great pains to show that Moses never really wanted leadership to begin with (Exodus 3-4), and even asks God to kill him due to the crushing weight of guiding the people (Numbers 11:14-15).
Not to mention the fact that he takes Jethro up on his idea to appoint judges over Israel to help share the load (Exodus 18). Does that sound like someone who wants to hoard power for himself?
This specific accusation also seems to be the one that gets Moses’ motor running. His response to Dathan and Abiram’s charge is anger. He even prays directly to God to vouch for his own righteousness, which he never does at any other time in Scripture that I know of (Numbers 16:15).
Third, Dathan and Abiram claim that Moses has yet to “give them an inheritance of fields and vineyards.”
I’m sorry, whose fault was it that they didn’t enter Canaan? Was it Moses’ or ten of the twelve spies?
Their whole argument is laced with lies. Moses knows it, God knows it, and I would argue even Dathan and Abiram know it.
Yet their slander can’t go unchecked. If Moses doesn’t handle it, there’s a chance the entire nation will abandon Moses (and God) and follow Dathan and Abiram (and Korah) right back to Egypt.
If you read Jewish commentaries and opinions about the backstory of these two men (which is not inspired, but still interesting), they’ll argue this is par for the course. Dathan and Abiram have been instigators from the beginning, so this is just another example of their faithlessness.
Some people are just like that. Despite all the good things happening in churches today, there are some who only want to complain and bicker…and lie. They make up half-truths to justify their position in the hopes of dragging people to their side.
That’s why Paul says you have to cut these people out (Romans 16:17-20). People who only want to cause trouble will never be builders—only destroyers.
That’s the last thing you want when you’re trying to change the world.