God’s distaste for complaining was clearly seen in the book of Exodus when the children of Israel constantly grumbled about various situations. The book of Numbers reinforces God’s distaste for complaining, but also adds a new focus on God’s attitude when complaining turns into rebellion against recognized authority.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were able to convince some 250 other significant men to join them in their cause to unseat the leadership. In their complaints (oh, oh!) they stated Moses took them out of a land “of milk and honey”(Egypt), rather than taking them to a land of “milk and honey.” Following Moses’ direction hadn’t been as pleasant and prosperous as expected, and these men decided they wanted to do things their own way.
Rebellion against legitimate authority always results in God’s judgment, sooner or later. Whether on the job, in school, in society, or in the church, there will always be those who raise a cry of discontent and attempt to gather others around a rebellious cause. Let me give you the same warning that God told Moses to give the community: In Verses 16:23-24, we read, “Then the Lord said to Moses, tell the community: Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.” It’s a good thing to separate oneself from those kinds of individuals, for you never know when the earth will open up and swallow them.