It’s Not the How, but the Why and What
Based on my encounter with people all these years, one thing I’ve heard more than once is how often people talk about the way they came into the world. Some say, “If only I were born into a rich family”,“I was born into a poor one”, or “My parents were separated” or “My life is like this because of what my parents did.” I think you get the point. Many times we trace our struggles back to our beginnings, and we convince ourselves that everything that happens to us is because of the circumstances we were born into.
But here is another story—about Korah’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Hatred doesn’t usually start as hatred. It often begins as jealousy, then grows into envy, then into strife, and only later becomes full-blown rebellion. Korah wasn’t alone; Dathan, Abiram, and On joined him in speaking against Moses. If you ever wondered why these men aligned together, it’s because Korah’s camp was positioned next to Reuben around the Tabernacle. Proximity often breeds influence, and influence can easily slip into the wrong direction.
Their complaint sounded spiritual on the surface, but underneath it was pure jealousy. Being Levites wasn’t enough—they wanted the priesthood too. They wanted positions God never gave them. But what strikes me is not their accusation—it’s Moses’ response. He didn’t argue. He didn’t defend himself. He didn’t try to justify or explain. Instead, Moses fell on his face. He simply said the Lord Himself would show who belonged to Him. That moment reminds me that not every fight deserves our energy. Sometimes silence is the greatest answer, and letting God handle it is the wisest choice.
Now here’s the part we all remember: God told the people to step away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. The ground split open, and the earth swallowed them alive. This is the version I heard for years. But recently I noticed something I hadn’t seen before. The text says that even their households, their possessions, everything connected to their rebellion, went down with them. Their beginning wasn’t the problem but their choices were. They thought their position wasn’t enough, and in chasing what wasn’t theirs, they lost what was.
What touched me even more is that later, in the book of Psalms, we find something surprising: the sons of Korah—his descendants—become worshippers, psalmists, and gatekeepers in God’s house. They weren’t swallowed. They weren’t cursed by their father’s actions. They chose differently. They refused to carry forward the bitterness that destroyed him. It’s a reminder that you are not limited by how you entered the world or what your parents did. You can choose a different ending even if your beginning wasn’t perfect.
Your story is not determined by where you started. It’s determined by who you follow and what you choose. And unlike Korah, you can choose to stand where God calls you, walk humbly, and let Him lift you in His time.
Every prayer, share, and act of support is deeply appreciated.
