In this chapter Korah, the Levites and the Reubenties rebel against Moses. They said, he took too much upon himself, everyone in the congregation was holy and the Lord was among them.

Yet, Moses knew they were not concerned about the people. He said, they were after the priesthood. They wanted more influence over the people.

Perhaps, they realized they were going to be in the wilderness for 40 years. And wondered why should Moses and Aaron have all the power and authority over the people. So 250 men came against Moses and Aaron.

Moses refused to argue with them, saying, tomorrow bring your censers and the Lord will show who is Holy.

The next day, Korah and his men were killed, the earth opened and swallowed them.

But unfortunately, the following day the people came against Moses and Aaron saying, you killed the people of the Lord.

As soon as they said those words, God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves, from the people. Then He sent a plague and killed 14,700 Israelites. As the plague went forth, Moses told Aaron to run and get a censer with incense and stand in the midst of the people.

As Aaron stood in the midst of the people, the smell of the incense rose up to God as a sweet smelling savor unto the Lord, and reminded Him about the sweetness of Christ’s coming sacrifice.

Christ the Lamb of God, would be lifted up and bring light into the world. Now the people were living in darkness, they were blind, because when Adam and Eve sinned they were yoked to the prince of the kingdom of darkness. He led them into sin and iniquity.

But Jesus the Christ, would die and make atonement for their sins. Then they would take off Satan's yoke and put on the yoke of Christ and become citizens of the kingdom of light.

We note that God told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the people. If they chose not to separate themselves, they would have died in the plague.

Aaron took the censer and stood between the living and the dead, picturing Christ our mediator. Christ died to make atonement for the sins of the world, those who partake of the rebellion started by the prince of darkness will die in their sins but those who separate themselves will live, they will not experience the second death or die prematurely due to divine judgment.

The book of Revelations tells us to separate ourselves from the people in the world lest we receive of their plagues.

Here’s the text:

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Revelation 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.