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This week’s Parasha is called Korach. It covers Numbers 16:1-18:32.

Last week we read in the Torah that the mighty God would bring judgment on the 12 tribes because they went along with the faithlessness of the10 spies. Their disobedience would cause their entire generation of Israelis to die before they reach the Promised Land.

In this week’s Parasha we begin to see how this sinful generation continues in disobedience. Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, son of Levi, along with Dathan and Aviram challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron. These men decided that they were as chosen as Moses and Aaron. Korah believed that since he was a Levi, he was just as holy and should also be a priest and be able to present incense in the Mishkan, also known as the tabernacle.

Amazingly, it was not long before that two of Aarons sons offered aish zarah, unauthorized fire, in the Mishkan and were consumed by fire for it; and yet Korah thinks he can decide for God who should be able to do it?

Dathan and Aviram, who supported Korah, were also unhappy that they would die in the wilderness and would rather be back in Egypt. These men also gathered 250 other leaders to support their challenge of Moses and Aaron.

But Moses and Aaron had something better than lots of supporters. They had Adonai on their side! Moses responded to this challenge by telling them that God would determine who were the holy ones set apart to serve God at the Mishkan – Aaron or members of this mob.

The next day these men came with their censors, large pans used to burn incense, with all the congregation of Israel, and approached the Mishkan. God’s glory appeared to all and the Lord told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from Korah and this evil bunch. Then the Lord opened the Earth and swallowed up Korah, Dathan and Aviram; and the rest of the 250 men were consumed by fire. The rest of the Israelis fled from the area. Then gathered the rebels’ censers and they were hammered into plates to go onto the alter. This was to be a reminder that only Aaron and his descendants, who were appointed by God, can serve at the Mishkan.

You would think that this demonstration would have been enough for the Israelis to get right with God, but wait, there’s more! The very next day the congregation began kvetching all over again against Moses and Aaron! God responded and sent a plague on the complaining Israelis. People started dying. Moses had Aaron take fire from the altar put it in his censer, along with incense, and run among the people, and the plague was stopped. On this day 14,700 Israelis died. This shows us that a true priest could make atonement for their sin with God’s mercy.

It makes you wonder how they can be so disobedient with the Lord in their presence.  Did they not see enough of the Lord’s supremacy the day before? But then all we have to do is look in the mirror to see that we are no better and no different from them. All too often we, like Korah, think we are worthy when we are not worthy at all – and we have the Holy Spirit inside us, so we should know better.

We are worthy not of our own accord. Our worthiness comes from being made in the image of God, and then being redeemed by Messiah’s blood, which cleanses us from our sin.

We don’t want to be like Korah and the rebels who reinterpreted God’s word. When we change His words so we can do what we want, and not what He has directed us to do, this is SIN. Have we not seen this in many churches and Messianic congregation, where the leaders twist Scripture to say whatever they want – that’s it’s OK to serve God and money; that homosexuality is OK; that Israel has been replaced by the Church and God is finished with the nation of Israel (Replacement Theology); or saying that unrepentant sin in the community is OK?

In Chapter 17 Adonai instructed Moses to have every tribe bring a staff with their name on it. God will chose who shall be the priest by having one of the wooden staffs grow buds on its. They were placed in the Tabernacle and of course, the next day, only one staff had buds on it. Aaron’s staff not only had buds but also blossoms and ripe almonds as well! Aaron and his sons were the God-ordained priests of the Chosen People.

In chapter 18 the Lord spoke to Aaron and reiterated that the responsibility of serving the Mishkan was only for Aaron and sons and the Levites. That was a huge responsibility.

But, the priests and the Levites were to be rewarded for their service. They were to receive a portion of what the other tribes bring for the Lord, and what was brought for the Lord was to be the best of the best. But, they too must give a tenth of what they receive back to the Lord. We can see that example right here at our congregation. We take a portion of what is given and in turn, we use it to bless others as God has surely instructed us to do.

So, what should we learn from this portion of the Torah?

We should be like the priests and Levites, who were given very important responsibilities at the Mishkan. Christians and Messianic Jews also have been entrusted with important responsibilities. Note that Yeshua doesn’t say – if you have time or if it’s not too much of a bother, would you please help Me. On the contrary, the Lord commands us to be about HIS business to give of our time, talents and treasures, to put Him first in all that we do.

We should be like the priests and Levites, who served the Lord and also depended on the Lord to provide for their needs. We should trust God to do the same for us. Can we trust Yeshua to look out for what is best for us and provide for us if we serve Him?

We should not be like Dathan and Aviram who had a total lack of faith.

We should not be like Korah. Not be arrogant. Not challenge the Lord’s leaders. Not reinterpret the commands of God. In his first letter, Peter reminds us that we need to shepherd the flock. Adonai is our shepherd, but He has entrusted our rabbis to shepherd us; but also for all of us to shepherd each other with humility to help keep us all on track with the Lord.

We should imitate the humility of Moses, who, in spite of all the kvetching by the Israelis against him, still interceded with Elohim for their benefit.

Brothers and sisters, will you be like Korah and think you deserve more and cause others to stumble or be like Moses and be humble and a blessing to others? This is where you get to make the choice, will you be a witness that brings joy to Messiah Yeshua. Brothers and sisters, choose wisely.