Korach

Parasha KORACH

Numbers 16:1 – 18:32

(Geneva Bible)

Haftarah

 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22

Brit Chadasha

Jude 1-25

Please Pray this

Prayer, before reading

I Prayer

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parasha

That the Truth of Torah may

Come forth. Amen

The thirty-eight Portion of the Torah begins; “Now Korach, the son of Izhar, the son of kehath, the Son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the son of Elid and On, the son of peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up against Moses, with certain of the Children of Yisrael, two hundred and fifty men; they were prince of the congregation, the elect men of the assembly, men of renown; and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, You take too much upon yourselves, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and YAHVEH is among them; why do you then lift yourselves up above the assembly of YAVEH? And Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.”

Every day of our lives, we do one of two things: We create positive or negative situation by the combination of the Words of Torah we used. We take the words that were meant to be positive word and used them in the negative, as Korach did.

As gods on a pilgrimage, we need to constantly hold onto this understanding because it is very important to remember in our study and in our work. If we truly accept responsibility for the tzerufin – the combination of the letters within the Torah, then we will appreciate the spiritual importance of the word we used.

Korach was a very negative person, meaning that he was operating in the negative spectrum of his personality, nevertheless he still had the potential to be a very positive person like the rest of us. The clue to his negativity is the word Vayikach, meaning that he was a taker, as Lucifer was. We can learn a very important spiritual lesson from this Torah Portion. That when a person wishes only to receive, he can only achieve negative results.

Hopefully, our goal on the Sabbath of Korach is to make a strong connection with the Holy Spirit, we will begin to understand what he did and why, so that the Korach in all of us, the ability to received for our selfish ego, may not rise up against our brothers.

Too many so-called leaders today, manifest the spirit of korach, they sacrifice the spiritual for the physical. In contrast to earlier occasions when the people complained about the lack of food and water, or for a El “god” to take Moses place as an intermediary between ABBA YAHVEH and Yisrael; in this Torah Portion there is an outright rebellion, an attempt to overthrow Moses and Aaron as the divine leaders of Yisrael.

The leader of the rebellion was their cousin and a fellow Levite, name Korach. As it is typical of would be usurpers who must attract a popular support to be successful, Korach posed as a champion of the Masses by discrediting Moses. Typical of most negative people, they will always speak poorly of leadership. As is so often seen in nature, one cannot pick good fruits from a bad tree.

Korach rebelled right after the inauguration of the Tabernacle, when Aaron and his sons were designated to replace the firstborn as the only ones who would perform the sacrificial service. This seems to trigger something in Korach, who was himself a firstborn, and it was easy for him to enlist two hundred and fifty others leaders who were also of the same nature, firstborn men such as: Dathan, Abiram, and On who were of the Tribe of Reuben, which had their own reason to be resentful, after having lost their privilege as firstborn to the offspring of Joseph. Levites were also upset for having being relegated to the assistants of the Kohanim.

Korah’s own resentment began with his Ego, when Aaron was made Kohen Gadol or when their cousin Elizaphan son of Uzziel was place in charge of the Kohathite family, Making Him Korach’s superior, and gave him a position that Korach felt should have been his.

Every action we as human manifest, comes from the dominant program of our heart or personality. If our heart is not being controlled by the Holy Spirit and Torah, we will always manifest the desire to received, which is the me first mentality. A person with such a dominant selfish desire will always look for the ideal opportunity to manifest their desire mask under the other person selfish desire.

Korach found an excuse to challenge Moses’ legitimacy, it was a short step for him to deny the Divine origin of the Commandments and hold them up to ridicule, for if Moses could be suspected of appointing his brother as Kohen Gadol, then why could he not be accused of fabricating a commandment such a forty years wondering in the Wilderness which had no basic in Logic.

By means of such challenge, Korach sought to convince the people that such illogical laws must have been the product of Moses’ own imagination. Moses was a very humble man, Moses had his selfish Ego under total check, Korach on the other hand was manifesting his selfish ego under the disguise of being a champion of the People.

What we do know is that whatever situation we may be going through is necessary to correction the Ego in us. When we begin to see the story of Korach and Moses in this spiritual context, we begin to see our own life. Moses illustrates the humility or the development of his Ego, while Korach died while trying to hold on to his defective Ego. If Korach had only said to Moses I was wrong! What do you think the outcome would have been?

This action of Korach was to remove the last segment of the selfish Ego that Moses had in himself. Moses past the test with flying color. When you read through this Portion, take a good look at yourself and ask, what would I do if I was Moses?

Would I kick them out of my church as many Pastor do to anyone who challenge them. Or would I fall humbly on my knee and seek ABBY YAHVEH’ for forgiveness for my challengers.

Chapter 16

Num 16:1 Now Korach the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi went apart with Dathan, and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, the sons of Reuben: - At this point in his life Korach had already separate himself spiritually from Moses and his leadership. Korach placed himself at odds with the goal and direction with the rest of the leadership. This is one of the greatest sin a person can ever commit. It was this same division that causes Lucifer to rebel against EL YAHVEH.

Korach was a Levi who should have known better. Since he is a part of the Levites those who have a heart for Torah. This just goes to show that it is not everyone who says they have the desire to serve יהוה have a heart for Him.

Korach found other with the same spirit, one such persons was Dathan, Abiram and On. My mother uses to tell me; show me your company and I will tell you who you are! The tribe of Rueben who was camped next to Korach and his followers, must have listened to the mumbling of Korach over a period of time. That is why we should not pay any attention to anyone who gossip.

The tribe of Ruben, which supplies most of Korah’s followers, encamped near the family of Korach, the negative, which brought negativesm to the Reubenites.

 

Num 16:2  And they rose up against Moses, two hundreth and fifties captains of the assembly, of the children of Yisrael, everyone famous in the Congregation, and men of renoume, - The Torah describe Korah’s followers as prestigious people. They were leaders of the tribe or heads of courts, and they were men of renown who were called to important meeting and consultations. The presence of such a respected delegation naturally lent credence to Korach and his cause.

When my assembly rebelled against me, it was led by a guy name Darren one of my lieutenants, a very eloquent a man who rigorously stood up for Torah. Or that what he seems to portray. If Darren can object to me, then I must be wrong, was the thinking of those who followed him, because he portrayed a spirit of spiritual fervor.

Num 16:3 who gathered themselues together against Moses, and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the Congregation is holy, every one of them, and YAHVEH is among them: wherefore then lift ye your selves above the Congregation of YAHVEH? – When I was overthrown, I was told we do not want a leader; all the men are all leaders. Does this sound familiar? Moses you took upon yourself to much responsibility, are we not all equal. Equality seems to be the general cry for those who wish to overthrow the spiritual head of the family. Women liberation movement also preaches this tune, of equality. Lucifer also promises Satan that he too would become the ruler of his own part of the Galaxies; people will pay tithes to you instead of the Creator.

Num 16:4  But when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face, - Moses did not say, I am the leader here, it was יהוה who place me incharge. Moses just drop to his knee and maybe said Father forgive them. When people rebel against you, our first action is to drop to our knee and submit to YAHVEH EL ElYON testing of our character. If we truly desire to be a leader, the most effective way to demonstrate leadership qualities is to be loyal under all circumstances.

Num 16:5  And spake to Korah and unto all his companie, saying, in the morning YAHVEH will show who is His, and who is holy, and who ought to approaches near unto Him: and whom He hath chosen, He will cause to come near to Him. -  Total confidence. YAHVEH will show, was Moses reply to the rebellion. Do not defend yourself when there is a struggle for who is in charge. Since Moses knew that he heard for יהוה he made it clear, tomorrow, Father יהוה will make it clear. Moses asserts himself, he did not wait for Korach to act, and Moses was the one who decide the tempo or the direction of the meeting. True leaders led, rebels follow.

Moses confronted the rebels, point blank; he did not try to reason with them. The Leviathan spirit is one that cannot be reason with, as you cannot reason with an Alligator whose only goal is to destroy you.

Num 16:6 this doe therefore, Take you censers, both Korach, and all his companies, - Moses continue to assert himself by giving instruction to Korach, take your censers and all your friends and come.

The sacred utensils that were used as censers in the daily incense service in the Tabernacle. Moses told Korah’s followers that the way to determine whom יהוה had chosen was through the incense, service. Moses said here is a service that יהוה desire above all others, but it contains the penitential of death.

Nada and Abihu died when they brought unauthorized incense. Therefore, Moses offered them an opportunity and a challenge. They could prove themselves if their incense was accepted; but if not, they could expect to die.

Moses had hoped that this threat would have ended their fantasy and causes them to withdraw from the rebellion. Furthermore, by emphasizing that יהוה would make His choice, Moses implied that only יהוה not Moses or korach, had the power to choose the leadership of Yisrael.

Num 16:7  and put fire therein, and put incense in the before YAHVEH tomorrow: and the man whom YAHVEH doeth chooses, the same shall be holy: you take too much upon you, you sons of Levi. -  In this verse we see the term he is the holy one. Moses used the present tense to imply that the true Kohen Gadol is already the holy one.

Moses went on to say to them that the position that they were seeking was too much for them. In other words they were not mature enough. Moses hurled back the same warning Korach had used against him. Moses was addressing the Levites in the group, telling them that they had already been given a high honor and should not be asking for more.

Rebellion is a condition of the heart, which has its roots in pride. Moses was implying that Korah’s motives was a desire for personal aggrandizement, because he was dissatisfied with being only a Levite, and wanted to usurp Aaron or Moses’ position.

In an assembly, when you see anyone challenging a leader, the root of rebellion is in that person selfish ego. Before coming to my congregation, the man Darren was expelled from another church by the Rabbi, he came to our assembly, and one day when I told the group it is time for us to take a break and meet back in thirty minutes, he boldly confronted me in the present of the people, saying; he did not think that they needed a break.

What I did not realize that this was the first appearance of the spirit of rebellion. Within a month a meeting was called under the pretense of discussing certain issues, when he brought up the idea that anyone should not be required to tithe to Beyt Lechem ministry.

That there should not be one leader, since all the men of the group were leaders. So I was push out. Within two month after that rebellion, the same people turned against Darin. Leadership should never fight for your position. Always let יהוה be our judge.

Num 16:8  Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi. – I believe that the humble man that Moses was, he spoke to Korach with a soft voice, he address his remarks to the entire group, out of fear that they might be entice to follow Korach.

It seems inconceivable that Moses acted on his own volition in ordering the entire group to bring incense. He was under the influence of the Spirit of Wisdom, and Understanding, the Spirit of Council and Might, and the Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of יהוה. A form of revelation higher than that of a Prophet. That is why the Torah never say that יהוה spoke to Him. 

Num 16:9  Seemeth it a small thing unto you that the Elohim of Yisrael hath separated you from the multitude of Yisrael, to take you near to himself, to do the service of the Tabernacle of YAHVEH, and to stand before the Congregation and to minister unto them? – Lucifer was the second in charge in the Heavens, one could not get any higher than that. That is why rebellion is so hurtfull, for it usually comes from those who are most closest to you. The one who is been rebell against is usually the last one to know about it. Even though there are tell-tale sign that something was brewing.

Even if the Pastor is the most incompetent person in the world, it does not give anyone the reason to rebel. If we do not like what is going on, just leave and allow our Heavenly Father to keep His church in order. Even if incompetency is a problem in the group, יהוה plan is always to build up the person, HE place us all in the position that is suitable for our spiritual development.

 

Num 16:10  He hath also taken thee to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee, and seek ye the office of the Priest also? – Moses took the time to scold the Levites, by reminding them that they were chosen for a grand position to serve in the Tabernacle, now you want to take over the priesthood as well.

It is quite certain that even if someone becomes a father spiritually, he or she can be convince by an even stronger or a more charismatic leader to become rebellious. This was the case of Lucifer and Satan. Satan was already a leader in a certain part of the Galaxies when he was asked by Lucifer to rebelled against YAHVEH.

   

We can learn from the rebellion in the Heavens that Lucifer took or manage to convince a third of the angel to act contrary to Torah. If Lucifer was indeed perfect, how is it that he developed a rebellious spirit? Is there a subroutine in our mental programming that causes us to react contrary to our established way of thinking. We cannot say it is the flesh, for Lucifer did not have the influence of the flesh to encourage him.

Can it be said then that it is a learnt trait. If this is true. Then this trait can be erased by experience learnt in the flesh. If this is true. What El Yahushua the Messiyah experiences in the flesh help Him to erase this negative subroutine called rebelliousness?

When we make it a policy to negate rebelliousness in the flesh, we are in essence erasing that rebellious spirit from our spiritual man. As El Yahushua learnt obedience by the things He suffered, we too must experience these test and pass them seven times, before we can be consider a rebellious free spirit.

Num 16:11  for which cause, thou, and all thy companie are gathered together against YAHVEH: and what is Aaron, that ye murmured against him? – Moses close his rebuttal by saying unequivocally that despite Korach’s populist reference to the people’s shared and equal holiness, Moses knew the truth and he knew against Whom he was rebelling. His complaint was not truly against Moses and Aaron, but against יהוה. Moses like all good leaders dismissed Korach’s claim that he and Aaron had taken authority on their own.