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Bmidbar Ministries presents the following teaching by Will Spires 6/18/12The title of this weeks portion is Korach. We have studied several parashas that instruct us o
Gods commandments. Be Holy, When You Go Out, Command, When you Kindlebut this week
portion is titled after a persons name. Recalling the significance of a namesuch as Shem, speaks
of a persons character, their honor, authority, and reputation, or the lack. They still carry an
incredible amount of meaning for us today, yes? What stirs in the bowels of your heart when you
hear names likeRonald ReaganMother TeresaAmelia EarhartWinston Churchill, or Henr
Ford, Betsy Ross or Rosa Parks? How about Hitler, Stalin, Timothy McVeigh, Sadam Hussein,
Osama bin Laden. Albeit not always traceable back to Hebrew, a persons reputation is still ingrain
in their name. Interestingly, most of us have never had the opportunity to become personally
acquainted with these people, so what is it about them that lives on, resonating and reminding us,
so strongly to awaken within the very fiber of our beings chemistry, that which could be influence
frombeyond the graveby Name? These are merely reminders, types and shadows of The One wh
continues to accomplish His transformative work in the hearts of all those who choose nottoharde
theirheartslike in the days in the wildernessHis Name, is Yeshua.
So technically The LORD isnt a barber, butbeing that hair is a covering, and as we learned
Moses patterned the earthly Tabernacle after the Heavenly one which was covered with tanned ram
skins and spun goat hair (Exo.26:7), we all want to make certain to stay under YHVHs covering f
sure yes? Korach we read was a person of renown. He was born under the tribe of Levi. Levi had
three sonsGershon, Kohath, & Merari. Kohath had four sons. Born to Kohaths son Amram was
Aaron and Moshe. Born under Kohaths second son Izhar, was Korach, Nepheg and Zichri
(Exo.6:15-21). In Bmidbar chapter 4 verses 14 & 15 we read that it was the Kohathites burden o
responsibility to carry all the holyobjects and furnishings within the Tent of Meeting whenever the
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nation of Israel moved from one camp to the next. Interestingly we read, And when Aaron and his
sons have finished coveringthe holy objects and all the
furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after
that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they
may not touch the holy objects and die. Then the LORD spoke to
Moses and to Aaron, saying, "Do not let the tribe of the families
of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites."But do thisto them that they may live and not die when they approach the
most holy objects: but they shall not go in to see the holy objects
even for a moment, lest they die." (Num 4:15, 17-20 NAS)
Not only did Korach share in the holy and prestigious
responsibility of carrying the holy vessels of the Mishkan, but God actually gaveAaronspecific
instructionto ensure that the vessels had been covered so that Korach and the families of Kohath
would NOT BE CUT OFF from the Levites. The Kohathites carried the holy vessels upon their
shoulders, because it was to be their burden. In similar fashion Aaron was reminded of them whe
he donned the two Sho-hamor Onyx stones upon his shoulders that bore the names of the childre
of Israel. When he stood before The Creator on The Day of Atonement with the Ephod and the 12
precious stones of the chsheneach with its tribal name engraved upon it, it was Aaron who was
responsible for them! The significance of thecoveringlies in th
name of this weeks parasha. Korach means bald. Korach
however had a covering by way of Aaron. His careful
consideration of remembering to always place a kaw-sahor
coveringto protect Korach and the other Kohathites is what ma
it possible for Korach
to serve, to be connected to the other Levites and to
God.Isnt this exactly what our Savior & High Priest
Messiah Yeshua did for us?As our High Priest He gave
His blood, His life to cover and cleanse us, and to restore
right relationship between God & man. The word for
covering in Paleo-Hebrew is a Kaf, Samech and a Heh, kaw-sah. Pictographically translated, it
instructs us that Gods Covering Reveals His Blessing and Protectionof the Kohathites! And notjust for life, but so that they may be connected and not cut off! Is this not a glorious type and shado
of Gods provision for His called out ones?What Korach failed to appreciate was the fact that God
had singled him out with special instruction, not to keep Korach from His glory, but to protect him
from getting to close lest he die, so that he could remain connected and be part of the whole!
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The furnishings in the Tent of Meeting had to be covered before Korach could enter and be
connected to his assigned work. But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they
approach unto the most holy things (Num.4:19) God has established His order. We read in the
previous section that rather than reflect with a heart of gratitude upon the fact that The Almighty h
made a special way for Korach to serve Him, Korach chose to become more preoccupied with hisway. Abba says, this is your area to operate in, from here to here. But how many of us struggle wit
finding peace with Gods commandment in our personal lives because were too preoccupied with
the lifestyle outlined for our neighbor?
Peter turned and saw following them the disciple whom Jesus loved, who had lain close to his brea
at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he sa
to Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I com
what is that to you? Follow me!" (Joh 21:20-22 RSV).
God is telling us, I have a special plan just for you. Now
follow it.But we would rather usurp Gods authority so that
we can take a higher position in our service to God.Did you
carefully read that last statement? Do this for me, go back
and re-read it back to yourself, again, and slowly, Ill wait.
Is not the insanity of that statement as obvious as the nose on
the end of our face? And yet, what is the root much of the
time when division takes place? Is it not because we want to
serve God ourway? What happens when we elect to pursue
that sort of path? If we choose to pursue a path seeking to
satisfy our desire we in essence become bald. We remove
ourselves from underneath the protective covenant covering
ordained by YHVH to keep us strong and safe. Where we find
the root of Korachs problem stretches back to two brothers
ever of old.
andring inNoddinghamIn the Brit Chadasha reading in the book of Yehudah, or Jude, in verse eleven we read, What sorro
awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they
deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion. (Jud 1:11 NLT) In this
translation we see the word is footsteps, in others its rendered as Way or Rebellion. But the wo
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hod-os' in the Greek text taken from Strongs# 3598 resembles numerous words and shares several
Hebrew cognates such as orach(a well-trodden road), erets(field, or land), derekh(a road), halikh(a
walk), chuts(to sever, to separate by way of a wall), morad(a descent, a steep going down). But its
still the same reference that Yeshua echoed in The Gospel of Matthew, Enter by the narrow gate;
the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it.
(Mat 7:13 NAS). Where did Cain end up after being escorted out of Eden? Then Cain went out fro
the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Gen 4:16 NAS) Nod inHebrew means wandering, but the focus here is the beginning of the verse out from the presence
the LORD.The road of Cain leads us on the path out from Gods presence, out from under His
protection, into a mindset void of Godliness and Godly wisdom and into a hardened heart and a
reprobate mind.
Silver& BronzeDo this: take censers, Korach and all your group; put fire in them; and put incense in them
beforeADONAI tomorrow. The one whomADONAI chooses will be the one who is holy! It is you
you sons of Levi, who are taking too much on yourselves!" (Num 16:6-7 CJB) Censors had to
withstand the heat from the fire in the live coals from the bronze altar. So, to make the metal harde
they would alloy Copper with about 10% Tin. This made the metal much more durable and stronge
strong enough to be used as hooks to hold heavy curtains of the Mishkan, and hard enough to be
beaten, shaped and used as weapons. We read in 2Timothy two that if a man desires to be a vessel
honor he must purge from himself iniquity. We look at the metal, we look at what it was fashioned
fora holy vessel, a censer, to carry the eternal flame in coals from the bronze altar and holy incen
which is symbolic of the prayers of the saints. The issue we observe is man taking something holy,and using it for something to elevate mannot God. Just like the difference between man and God
we see Bronze used in service to God. But it also means dubious. Do we stand with God in the har
times assuming and expecting Him to wisk us away our of the valley of trial and then get angry at
Him when He doesnt right away? Isnt this what Korach did? He even went so far as to declare a
bald-faced lie and declare that the land Moses took them out of, Egypt, was a land of milk and
honey! (Numbers 16:13).
Do we see this today? Proverbs says An arrogant man stirs up strife, But he who trusts in th
LORD will prosper.(Pro 28:25 NAS) Was Korach operating out of a spirit of humility and
obedience unto YHVH? Or of arrogance, of self-promotion? This occurred with King Uzziah in 2
Chronicles we read, But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and
while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in th
house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense. (2Ch 26:19 NAS) When we step out from under
Gods covering we invite sickness, uncleanness, curses and death.
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Frames are important. The right frame can really make a photograph or painting. They
organize, focus our attention and set boundaries to fix our eyes on the picture inside. I cannot tell y
how many times I told my sons when they were children to sit still, stop moving, quit making rabbears behind your brothers head; but another type of frame, or fitting reveals the purpose of the live
captured on the paper. Let me backtrack with a word taken from the Renewed Covenant reading of
this weeks parasha. Now in a large house
there are not only gold and silver vessels, bu
also vessels of wood and of earthenware, an
some to honor and some to dishonor.
Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from
these things, he will be a vessel for honor,
sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared fo
every good work. (2Ti 2:20-21 NAS) Were
discussing the vessels used in the Tabernacl
They had to be covered before Korach could
approach and carry them. They had to be
covered to remain honorable.
Scripture says, if a man cleanses
himself from these things, he will be a vessefor honor. For years when I read that I interpreted it to suggest that The Father purposely creates
some beings for dishonorthis always perplexed me because I thought, why would an omnipotent
just and loving GOD send His Son to earth to die for some, and not all? Doesnt His Word say Th
Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing
for anyto perish but for allto come to repentance? (2Pe 3:9 NAS)But when we read Romans 9, verses 19-23 we wonder why would Adonai, LORD of Hosts,
choose to make a vessel unto dishonor? What if God, willing to shew hiswrath, and to make
his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fittedtodestruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy
which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Rom.9:22-23). Fitted in the Greek is taken from
Strongs G2675, kat-ar-tid'-zo, meaning to completethoroughly, that is, repair(literally or
figuratively) or adjust:- fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect(-ly join together), prepare,
restore. So if God has told us to prepare, then we can meet Him. Remember Mt. Sinai? An
be readyagainst the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of a
the people upon mount Sinai.(Exo.19:11) The word for be readyin Hebrew is Strongs#
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H3559kun, koonA primitive root, meaning to stand perpendicular);. hence (causatively)
setup, establish,fix,prepare, apply, appoint, rendersure,properorprosperous: - certai
(-ty), confirm, direct, faithfulness, fashion, fasten, firm, be fitted, be fixed, frame, be
meet, ordain, order, perfect, (make) preparation, prepare(self), provide, make
provision, (be, make) ready, right. See, God does provide The Way, but we choose
whether to walk in it; and a sign that we are not on the correct road can be easily identified
by our speech. Jude, or Yehudah in the Brit Chadasha says, These are grumblers, finding fau
following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake ofgaining an
advantage. (Jud 1:16 NAS) It is clear to see that Korach was following his own lusts. He had
removed himself out from underneath YHVHs protective coveringbut the even worse tragedy w
what followed. Yehudah exhorts us to contend earnestly for the faith, this has to do with trusting
Gods word. How is it that Korach was able to persuade 250 righteous men to join in his rebellion?
Because when we grumble and complain it catches like fire, and as Paul told Timothy in 2Timothy
chapter two, godless babbling will eat away like gangrene. Further into the parasha after Korach an
the 250 men of renownare destroyed, the very next day the sons of Israel grumbled against Mose
and Aaron! Not including the 250 men, the murmuring of the sons of Israel brought upon them a
plague of Biblical proportion. It destroyed 14,700 people before Aaron brought his censer with fire
and incense and stood in between the dead and the living.
Beloved, murmuring catches
because often times it begins quite
deceptivelybut oftentimes I find in
personal experience its permitted
because we have insecurities within
ourselves. By degrees its welcomed
into the camp and before long we can
find ourselves unclean as well. Our
choices determines the condition of our
heart. Luke says out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks. Korachbrought destruction upon himself by
taking the way of Kayin, but we dont have to beloved. God told Kayin sin crouches at the door, bu
we must master it. The question is are we willing to apply His Word to our heart so that we can tru
be over-comersor Hebrews (Ivrim), or are we going to follow Korach and so many others self-
destructive path and be lead out from the presence of God. HaShem desires to make you into a ves
of honor. Let us do as Samuel the prophet concluded in todays haftarah after Israel had committed
the sin of demanding a king over them when YHVH had already told them that He was their king.
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When they recognized their sin and were humbled Samuel told them the right way. He told them to
reverence YHVH and to Be Honest with yourself, with God, and with others; Only fear the LORD
andserve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
(1Sa 12:24 NAS). Ahmein, Ahmein.
