How To Redeem Your Family Name

“But the sons of Korah did not die.” Numbers 26:11 (NIV)

When people hear your last name, something comes to mind. Every name carries weight. A legacy. And maybe you’ve wondered, what will mine be? Maybe your family story has some painful chapters. But God’s Word reminds you - cycles can be broken.

In Numbers 16, we meet Korah, a man once anointed for sacred service. He and his family were handpicked by God to carry the holy items of the tabernacle. What an honor. While others could load carts, Korah’s family was trusted to bear the burden of ministry on their shoulders. No shortcuts, no oxen, only the weight of glory. Ministry is a burden, and if you’re called, you feel it. 

But eventually, something shifted in Korah. He started comparing his burden to others’. Jealousy crept in. Bitterness took root. And he let the wrong voices - Dathan and Abiram -  feed the fire. “You’re being overlooked,” they whispered. “You deserve more.” Soon, the man who once carried God’s glory was consumed by resentment.

His sons were watching. Powerless to stop their father’s downward spiral, they saw him transform into a man they didn’t recognize - angry, offended, hostile toward Moses, Aaron, and even God. These sons could have followed in his steps. They could’ve repeated the cycle. But they didn’t. Numbers 26:11 quietly drops a powerful line: “The sons of Korah did not die.” When the earth opened up and swallowed the rebels, the sons were spared. They broke away. They made a different choice. And not only did they survive, they later became worship leaders, writing psalms that still stir our hearts today.

You can redeem your family name. You don’t have to repeat what was modeled. 

Even if a parent failed and even if discontentment and bitterness were the norm in your home, you can still choose another way to live. You can break the cycle of negativity and live in gratitude instead. Let God write a new chapter through you.

Share