Numbers 16, One Bad Apple
In today’s reading of Numbers 16, we learn of Korah and his buddies leading an uprising against Moses and Aaron. They get another 250 to join in, and God ends up destroying them. The earth actually opened up and swallowed Korah, his buddies, and their families, then fire devoured the 250. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I learned about the 2006 and 2023 studies about negativity, the same day I read this.
The 2006 study included 40 groups of 5 people, with 1 person in each group serving as an actor. The actors would display different behaviors, such as laziness, jerkiness, and pessimism. The study showed that 1 toxic person in a group, regardless of their negative behavior, can impact performance by up to 40%. I find it fascinating how other people’s behaviors can affect us. This study was just teams working together. Imagine the impact of growing up with a parent or family member who’s always negative, someone you can’t escape.
That’s 1 great thing about being an adult, we get to choose who we let into our lives. In Numbers 16:26, the people were told to get away from those who had sinned.
“Quick” he told the people. “Get away from the tents of these wicked men, and don’t touch anything that belongs to them. If you do, you will be destroyed for their sins.”
Numbers 16:26
Korah’s rebellion wasn’t just negativity; it was a rejection of God’s appointed leaders. But negativity is contagious and destructive. We as leaders must draw our lines; we can’t ride the fence, we have to set healthy boundaries to protect those we love, boundaries built on Christ and Scripture.
‘Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. ‘
Proverbs 4:23
‘Stay away from fools, for you won’t find knowledge on their lips. ‘
Proverbs 14:7
‘6So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. ‘
1 Peter 5:6-7
Felps W, Mitchell TR, Byington E. How, When, and Why Bad Apples Spoil the Barrel: Negative Group Members and Dysfunctional Groups. Research in Organizational Behavior. 2006;27(3):175-222.