Self-Appointed Leadership: Moses Diffuses Korah’s Rebellion

Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
Numbers 16:31-33

Two kinds of false leaders emerge within organizations: man-appointed leaders and self-appointed leaders. Balaam was a false leader of the first kind. Balak persuaded him to do something that God rejected, and the Lord rebuked Balaam for his arrogance.

Korah was a false leader of the second kind. Author Frank Damazio writes: “A self-appointed leader takes upon himself the authority and responsibility of a spiritual office to which he has not been divinely called.” Korah blatantly and arrogantly rebelled against Moses.

In self-will and presumption, Korah followed a process of self-appointment common to many who illegitimately pursue power:
1. He caused others to rise up against existing leadership.
2. He publically criticized and questioned existing leadership.
3. He accused leadership of what he himself was guilty of.
4. He despised as too little the position to which he had been given – he wanted more.
5. He continued to murmur, complain, and create a negative atmosphere.

Not surprisingly, God always rejects false leadership. He rebuked Balaam and he put Korah to death. Such leadership lessons might seem harsh, but they last.

Do you aspire to greater authority than you have been appointed? Is there a change in behavior and attitude that you need to make here?

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