“Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has
set you apart from the community of Israel and brought you close to Him,
allowing you to serve in God’s Tabernacle and to minister to the community’s leaders?
Now that He has advanced you and all your fellow Levites with you, do you seek
the priesthood too?”
—Numbers 16:9–10
The Overeager Farmer
A wealthy nobleman, the owner of vast estates, employed local villagers to farm his land. Each peasant was assigned a plot to plow, plant, and harvest, with the produce going straight to the nobleman. Fair enough, given the social order of the time.
One day, a peasant approached the nobleman, visibly
agitated. “Why do I get just one acre to farm, while my neighbor gets two, and
another gets three? What’s the deal?”
The nobleman listened, his face impassive as a stone.
Without hesitation, he ordered that the peasant’s plot be taken away.
The peasant stood there, stunned. “Wait a second! Not only
did I not get more land, but now you’re taking away what I had before! Why?”
The nobleman looked at him, his eyes narrow. “From your
request, it’s obvious that you’re dishonest. You don’t want more land to work.
You want more land so you can steal more produce from me. Why else would you be
volunteering for extra work? If you were trustworthy, you’d be content with
what you’ve got.”
“You Have Enough!”
Moses said the same to Korach and his followers: “Sons
of Levi,” he told them, “you have enough!” (Num. 16:7). And they did. They were
already entrusted with guarding the Sanctuary, singing in the holy service, and
carrying the Tabernacle during the nation’s travels. Not too shabby.
But Korach wanted more. Not more work—more honor. More
power. The priesthood itself.
And Moses saw right through it. If Korach had truly wanted
to serve God, he’d have thrown himself into the duties he already had. But the
ambition gave him away. He didn’t want to serve; he wanted the spotlight.
It’s a rule as old as fields and farmers: When a man asks
for more responsibility, ask yourself why. Sometimes it’s faith. And sometimes
it’s firewood for his ego.
