Today's Reading is Numbers 16-18
My thoughts on today's reading...
So God appointed Moses and Aaron to lead His people, with the assistance of the leaders from each tribe and the Levites who were to serve as priests and workers in the tabernacle. Evidently that wasn't enough for Korah, so he convinces others to join him in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron. He wants to appoint himself as a priest, so Moses says to take the censors and appear before the Lord. Note that Aaron and Moses both plead for the Lord to forgive, and rather than destroy them all, the Lord does end the rebellion of Korah and his followers as the ground opens up and swallows them. You would think, lesson learned. I'm going to be on my best behavior now.... but no, another group complains that Moses and Aaron had punished Korah and his followers, (even though it was the Lord, and Moses and Aaron pleaded for the Lord to spare the rest of Israelites). And so begins some kind of plague, but who comes to the people's rescue again... Moses and Aaron.
I guest I would hope that the people would get the point that Moses and Aaron aren't in it for themselves and their own power, but to serve God's people. To remove any doubt, God has each tribe present a rod, and it is Aaron's that is chosen, proving that it was God who had chosen Aaron and his sons to serve in their priestly roles. Chapter 18 then goes on to point out the duties of the priests and Levites, and how God would provide for their wellbeing, through the sacrifices of God's people.