I spoke at a Youth Conference in Singapore about two weeks ago, and I felt some of the points I made might be useful for our readers at Ela Koinonia.

“Your DNA does not define your destiny“

Pause, and read that again.

This was the main message I emphasised during my session at the conference. We also studied the lineage of Jesus, focusing on a few individuals and how they were all flawed, unclean people whom God chose to include in the narrative of Jesus. They were undoubtedly dysfunctional, broken, and messy individuals that God selected to be a part of Jesus’s life in order to carry out His objectives. 

Some people may be tagged useless or unimportant by others around them but God does not look at earthly tags. Even if they are those tags, to the point that their case is deemed hopeless, the fact that God is the God of the impossibilities enables Him to carry out tasks that seem to be beyond our imagination.

Know that, God will achieve His goals for your life, and God’s plans for your life are unstoppable. Worldly tags, putdowns or rejections do not act as a deterrent in God’s plans for you; He is the author of our story. We may lead dysfunctional and chaotic lives, but if we commit our lives to God, whose plans and purposes for our lives are far greater and better than anything we could ever conceive, God will work all things together for our benefit and His great glory. 

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Have you read about a character named Korah, in the Bible?

Don’t worry if you haven’t. Let us look at his story together:

Korah gained notoriety in Numbers 16. Let me give you a gist of this book: Levi had three sons, and Korah was one of their grandsons (Kohath). He was a Levite, so he was involved in the Levitical responsibilities of maintaining the tabernacle and the tent of the tabernacle, which housed God’s “presence” among the people. Unlike the other Levites who were allowed to transport their items in carts, the Kohathites were required to hand carry their items. The Ark of the Covenant was particularly sacred. Maybe the Kohathites were jealous of the ease enjoyed by the other priests who didn’t have to hand carry the items for which they were responsible. We don’t know. The Scripture doesn’t tell us.

Korah collects 250 men and confronts Moses and Aaron over their selection of the Levites in particular to perform the Lord’s holy responsibilities. This occurs during the time that Israel was roving over the desert. Korah questions both God’s and Moses’ judgement in this situation.

In essence, Korah and his supporters led a rebellion against Moses, the Israelites–who are called the people of God,– and the Scriptures. Korah’s rebellion goes a little further than complaining about Levitical customs. He doubts God’s choice of Israel’s leaders, particularly the religious leadership.

As a result of his evil, he is swallowed up by the earth. The Bible mentions his life narrative in Numbers 26: 10–11 (KJV):

¹⁰ and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning.  But the sons of Korah did not die

An illustrious and descriptive version of the verse, says:

“the ground gaped wide its jaws and sucked Korah and two others rebels, Dathan and Abiram, and their families into itself, while 250 of their supporters were consumed by fire.”

Intense, right? This was a cautionary tale for the whole of Israel. 

Then, when we look at verse 11, it says: 

“But his sons did not die!”

Astounding and quite strange. However, we know that every word and line in the Bible serves a specific purpose, so does this.

From Numbers, the fourth book of the bible, we jump to the Psalms, the nineteenth book, where we see Korah’s name again. However, it is “sons of Korah” and not Korah, himself. 

Although King David wrote the majority of the book of Psalms, you may have encountered passages in the 150-chapter book that said, “maskil of the sons of Korah” (Psalm 42), or “Psalm of the sons of Korah” (Psalm 84).

What a redemptive story!
The descendants of a rebellious man who was swallowed up by the earth, was not only spared from the wrath but also redeemed. Korah’s succeeding line, appears to continue past Samuel and beyond. King David’s warriors and doorkeepers were descendants of the Korahites. Many generations after Korah disobeyed Moses, they were still faithfully maintaining the ark (and God).

Some of the Psalms were written by three of Korah’s line’s successors who went on to achieve great musical mastery: Asaph, Ethan, and Heman. Clearly, Korah’s lineage seems to distance themselves from the legacy of their father. They did not let Korah’s evil ways define their life, and neither did God hold them accountable for the rebellion of their father.

This is what we can learn from the story of Korah’s lineage: If we give our stories to God, He can redeem them. Psalms 84 is one of my favourite chapters and it was penned by the Korahite lineage.

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
² I long, yes, I faint with longing
    to enter the courts of the Lord.
With my whole being, body and soul,
    I will shout joyfully to the living God.
³ Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young
at a place near your altar,
    O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
⁴ What joy for those who can live in your house,
    always singing your praises. 

What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,
    who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
⁶ When they walk through the Valley of Weeping 
    it will become a place of refreshing springs.
    The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
⁷ They will continue to grow stronger,
    and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.

⁸ O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
    Listen, O God of Jacob. 

⁹ O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!
    Show favor to the one you have anointed.

¹⁰ A single day in your courts
    is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
    than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
¹¹ For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.
¹² O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    what joy for those who trust in you.

This Psalm contains some of Scripture’s most exquisitely penned demonstrations of thanksgiving, awe, and humility. I call Psalm 84, one of the most touching Psalms.

What an amazing turn of events. Even though our origins may have been rebellious or even questionable, the story doesn’t have to finish there. Our God is a God of redemption. He prefers mercy to sacrifice. (Hosea 6:6) Even if we have strayed a great distance, He is always there if we come back to Him.

So, “Run to Him”, and He will redeem your story.

Afterall, isn’t it better to be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to be anywhere else?

Even though our origins may have been rebellious or even questionable, the story doesn’t have to finish there. Our God is a God of redemption