Parashat Korach

Saturday 9 July 2016                                         Tamuz  3  5776

Parashat Korach
Numbers 16:1-18:32; 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22; Luke 18:35-19:28

There are two rebellions this week.

1. First, Korach, a Levite, was passed over for the leadership of his tribe and then challenges Moshe over the position of High Priest. No good rebellion can be "sold" as a means for personal gain, so Korach convinces 250 men of renown that they must stand up for a matter of principle -- that each and every one of them has the right to the office of High Priest (which Moshe had announced that God had already designated his brother, Aharon, to serve).

Fascinatingly, all 250 followers of Korach accept Moshe's challenge to bring an offering of incense to see who God will choose to fill the one position. This meant that every man figured he would be the one out of 250 to not only be chosen, but to survive the ordeal. Moshe announces that if the earth splits and swallows up the rebels it is a sign that he (Moshe) is acting on God's authority. And thus it happened!

2. The next day the entire Israelite community rises in a second rebellion and complains to Moshe, "You have killed God's people!" The Almighty brings a plague which kills 14,700 people and only stops when Aharon offers an incense offering.

To settle the question once and for all, Moshe has the head of each tribe bring a staff with his name on it. The next morning only Aharon's staff had blossomed and brought forth almonds. The people were shown this sign. Aharon's staff was placed in front of the curtain of the ark as testimony for all time.

When Moshe reprimands Korach for seeking the priesthood, he concludes:

"Therefore, you and your congregation who gather together are against the Almighty; and Aharon, who is he that you complain against him?" (Numbers 16:11)

What did Moshe mean when he said, "and Aharon, who is he"?

Rabbi Shlomo Kluger comments that when someone verbally abuses a very distinguished personage and then disparages a common person, the common person won't take great offense.

This is what Moshe was saying to Korach. Since you are really complaining against the Almighty, how can your words hurt Aharon? He will easily remain oblivious to what you say since he sees that you also have complaints against the Almighty.

When we come in contact with a very critical person, we need not necessary take offense at what he says. This is the way he speaks to all people so there is no reason to take it personally. Realize that the problem is his, not yours, and you free yourself from any possible hurt feelings from what he says.

However, criticism is sometimes built around a kernel of truth. Be sufficiently open and objective to examine the criticism and see if there is a kernel of truth that can speak into your life. If there is truth, learn from it. If however, it is an empty criticism, do not receive the criticism or allow hurt to spring up. the best way of dealing with criticism is to take no offense. However, when it is within one’s home, it becomes more nuanced and a little more challenging to deal with. The principle however remains: take no offense!
Heb 12:14-15
14  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

People are at times thoughtless and careless with their words, offending and causing hurt in others. Yet, scripture teaches that if you allow that hurt to fester – if you allow a root of bitterness or resentment to spring up – it now becomes sin to you! The way forward is through confession and repentance! A root of bitterness cannot be blamed upon another person or even a particular circumstance! You have to take ownership and responsibility in order to get free by way of confession and repentance so that you can press on to know the Lord.

Phil 3:12-14
12 “ ….. but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of G-d in Messiah Yeshua.

No matter the circumstances and the sometimes careless words spoken against us, our posture is always straining forward and upward, never allowing for a moment a root of anything that is contrary to G-d’s ways to develop.

Any root that is allowed to grow is a hindrance and a stumbling block in one’s life!