Being a leader is like playing “King of the Hill.” King of the Hill was a game we played as kids.
There was a mound of dirt on the playground. Whoever was at the top of the hill was king. Everyone else playing the game tries to knock the king off the top of the hill, and then they become king. That is until the next person comes along and knocks them off the hill so they can be king.
Being a leader in real life is a bit like playing king of the hill, but the stakes are much higher. Those in leadership positions are regularly targeted by rebels who oppose your leadership. It can happen to anyone, even those appointed by God to lead His people. For example, rebels challenged Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership on several occasions.
God called on Moses & Aaron to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. They were not gone long before a rebellion led by a man named Korah threatened the entire nation. If it happened to Moses and Aaron, it could happen to us!
Here’s the backstory of Korah’s rebellion (Numbers 16).
Korah’s Rebellion
A prominent man named Korah assembled a coalition of 250 other leading men to challenge Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership of the Israelites.
Korah accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above everyone else. Korah wanted the people to have more input because God dwelled with them all, and God had described the people as a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:3-6).
What Korah said publicly in accusing Moses and Aaron was designed to rally his supporters, but it hid the real reason for his rebellion. When someone rebels against a leader, there is usually a stated reason and a hidden reason for the rebellion.
The Stated Reason
In Korah’s case, his stated reason was he wanted more democracy inside the camp. He wanted the people to have a say in running things because God lived among all of them and described them as a kingdom of priests.
His logic was, “If God lives among the entire nation of Israel, who do Moses and Aaron think they are elevating themselves above the rest of us, telling us what to do?”
The Hidden Reason
Korah’s real reason for starting the rebellion against Moses and Aaron was hidden. He didn’t want to be someone who just helped the priests in the service of the Lord. Instead, he wanted to be a priest!
His logic was, “If we are all priests as God says, why should Aaron and his people be the only ones to get to offer sacrifices to God? I want to be a priest and offer sacrifices too!”
What Drove Korah’s Rebellion?
Understanding what drove Korah’s rebellion gives us an important clue to what causes rebellion today.
Korah was envious of Moses and Aaron. God had appointed them to lead the nation, and Korah wasn’t satisfied with the role God had assigned him. His envy drove his selfish ambition to be something God had not called him to do.
James warned us of this very thing when he wrote, “For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16).
How Did Moses Respond to the Rebellion?
Moses responded to the rebellion in a way that demonstrated he understood Korah’s public accusation as well as Korah’s selfish ambition:
- He humbled himself before the Lord. When Moses heard the accusations against he fell on his face before the Lord (Numbers 16:4, 22).
- He interceded for the people in prayer. Then, when the Lord was ready to judge the people, Moses prayed, asking the Lord not to punish all the people for the sins of the few (Numbers 16:22).
- He faced his accusers directly. Moses reasoned directly with the rebels explaining what they were doing was in direct opposition to God (Numbers 16:5-11).
- He left the final judgment to God. When the rebels refused to back down, Moses left the final judgment of who should lead the Israelites up to God (Numbers 16:16-55).
Leaders beware! There will be those who, out of envy and selfish ambition, will rebel against you. They will speak falsely. They will lie about you. They will say and do whatever it takes to become king of the hill.
The first step in thwarting a rebellion is understanding its cause; envy and selfish ambition. The second step is to respond like Moses; humble yourself, spend time in prayer, face your accusers directly, and know the final judgment will come from God.
More Articles
I have written several articles on this topic. You can find them by typing “Conflict Management” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #212: Have You Worked for Either of These Kinds of Bad Bosses?
- #024: Envy + Jealousy = Anger Issues
- #015: To Forgive, Going Above and Beyond?
- #012: What to do When Facing Opposition
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Has anyone rebelled against your leadership? What steps did you take to manage the situation?
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Category: Skill | Conflict Management
I used to have to worry about one or two mutineers in the police department, working against the Department’s goals. Now that I’m retired, I’ve transitioned to my new staff- two dogs in my art studio. So far they’ve been pretty darn loyal, as long as they get their walks and dog biscuits! Thanks Ron.
One person leading a rebellion is bad enough, but two?! Yikes! I’m glad to hear the dogs are loyal, but I am not at all surprised. Keep a sharp eye on the cat. I never did think they were as loyal as dogs. Just sayin’ 😉
Solid insights on the realities of leadership. Even Jesus had Judas!
When I’ve been in leadership positions in organizations, I’ve learned to listen to the rebellious ones because even in the midst of their personal angst or issues, they often are the only one’s openly speaking truth.
For example, we know Moses was a control freak until Jethro, his father-in-law, intervened and said, “Delegate.” So in a way, Korah had a valid point to make but didn’t need to make it so pointedly. I sense Moses understood this, too.
Kevin,
I agreee — always be listening. You never know what insights might be gained even from those rebelling against you unless you are willing to listen carefully.