LivingCenser

                                                        A priest with his censer of incense

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Korach, meaning "Bald." This title is found in the wording of the verse that opens this reading portion: "Now Korah (qorah/qarah - "bald"/make bald, make a baldness, to make oneself bald, make smooth) the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Num. 16:1-3).

      So the Sabbath title refers to a man's name, Korah, who was a Levite, the tribe of dedicated servants and priests who ministered in the tabernacle. Moses and Aaron were Levites also. We see that Korah and two hundred fifty renown leaders whom he had persuaded were challenging Moses' and Aaron's spiritual positions and leadership of God's people. The Hebrew letters of the name "Korah,", each having their own meaning are qoph, reysh and heh. When these letters and their meanings are put together, they could form the meaning "Behold, the highest and most important head who is first, has been made the back of the head, the last and the least." We will see that this describes well what is happening here.

     Korah was not challenging Moses and Aaron on behalf of the people, but because of his own ambition, as Moses discerned. He said to Korah: "Hear now you sons of Levi: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-work of the tabernacle of the LORD...Are you seeking the priesthood also? Therefore you and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-your-company are gathered together against the LORD." (Num. 16:8-11, excerpt). Notice that all of the rebels involved have the written *aleph-tav preceding them. They were identified in some way with the Messiah/Christ (see *note at the end of the entry). Is this surprising? We will read of this kind of attitude again in the New Testament later.

     As we see above, the challenge against Moses and Aaron was really a challenge against the LORD. The LORD will meet this challenge. Like a head that has been made bald, challenging the LORD's position removes a "covering." The LORD will demonstrate this. Once Moses and Aaron had received the challenge to their positions of authority over the people, a position which they had never sought, these were the instructions from the LORD to the rebels: "Do this: Take censers (mahta/mehita/hata - firepans, censer, fire holder, for live coals, removing live coals/destruction, terror, ruin, dismaying, a breaking, dissolution/seize, take away, snatch up coals, destroy) Korah and all your company; put fire in them and put incense (qetoret/qatar - incense, perfume, odor of sacrifice, smoke, fumigation that causes to flee) in them before the LORD tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi." (Num. 16:6-7).

     This is not the first time that the LORD has dealt with people through the use of censers. (see Lev. 10:1-3). As we can see by the Hebrew word meanings for censer and incense, the burning coals have the meaning of a terrifying destruction and breaking. The incense that represents the fragrance of sacrifice (see qetoret/qatar above) placed upon those coals becomes a smoking cloud that covers over that destruction. The cloud of incense also acts as a fumigating smoke that causes (spiritual) undesirables or pests to either leave or be destroyed. Regarding the incense to be used, the LORD said in an earlier place: "You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure and holy...It shall be most holy to you. But as for the incense which you shall make, you shall not make any for yourselves, according to its composition. It shall be to you holy for the LORD." (Ex. 30:35-37, excerpt). Any who used the incense for any private purpose other than in worship of the LORD would lose their lives (see Ex. 30:38). 

     When the LORD commanded Korah and the other rebels to get out their censers, they should have gotten a clue that this was not going to turn out well for them, and it didn't. They were destroyed in a terrifying manner (see mahta/mehita/hata above) - by earthquake and by fire. (Num. 16:31-35). Then the LORD ordered that: (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-The-censers that the rebels "...who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel." (v. 38). It is not men who made the censers holy but the LORD who made them part of His holiness because they were in His presence.

     In the hands appointed by the LORD, the power of the holy things of God save and deliver, but in the hands of those who presume but have not been so called, appointed and anointed, those same holy things become a death sentence to them. 

     The very next day, when the whole congregation is condemning Moses and Aaron for the deaths of their brethren, the rebels, the LORD, hearing the accusation, broke out in anger against the Israelites. As Moses and Aaron fell on their faces to intercede for the congregation, Moses told Aaron: "Take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-a-censer and put (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-fire-in-it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon, to be covered over, propitiation) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (Num. 16:41-46). As we know, Jesus Messiah/Christ is the Atonement covering for our sins that saves us from the death and destruction of sin.

     As Aaron ministered atonement with his censer, he ran to stand between the living and the dead. The plague stopped at that place. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died before the plague was stopped. That's how fast it had swept through the people. (see v. 47-50).

     Before we assume that the rebellion of Korah is limited to the Old Testament, let's look at some instances where people have made themselves "bald" or uncovered in the same manner as Korah:

Personal ambition: Luke 22:24 says: "Now there was also a dispute among them (referring to the disciples of Jesus), as to which of them should be considered the greatest." Jesus said that the ways of the Kingdom of God were completely different from those of the world. The idea of "greatness" comes in the form as one who serves rather than one who insists upon being served. He Himself came as a servant among them. (v. 25-27).

     The idea of "greatness" in the kingdom arose again as His disciples asked Jesus, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" (Mt. 18:1). How can anyone sit before the Greatest, the Son of God, and ask, "Who is the greatest?!" Perhaps they were expecting Jesus to say, Abraham, or Moses, or David. However, Jesus called a little child before Him, and He said, "Unless you are converted (strepho - turn oneself, turn back again, reverse, turn from one's course of conduct) and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." (v. 2-5). We carry this kind of mindset of being "great" from the world. We have to turn away from it. Again, the qualifications of the Kingdom of God are not like those of the world. However, worldly standards and goals often still have rule over our minds, whether we admit it or not.

     Paul addressed this issue of personal ambition in the Church saying: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." (Phil. 2:3). Paul doesn't say to consider others equal to oneself but better than oneself! Korah the Bald wouldn't like that one. We might have a difficult time with that one also.

Financial Gain: Many warnings appear in scripture about those who preach Messiah/Christ for financial gain. See 2 Pet. 2:3, Titus 1:11, 2 Cor. 2:17, 1 Tim. 6:9-11. I say sincerely, God bless those who humbly and obediently serve the Lord for no other reason than because they love Him and love His people. I thank you for your sincerity and selflessness.

Works Denying the Father: Jesus said: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness/iniquity." (Mt. 7:21-23). Korah disregarded the leadership of God the Father over Israel and decided that he was more qualified to lead the people than the ones appointed by God. The two Hundred and fifty leaders of renown agreed with him. He and they were wrong. The Father has not ceded His throne to any man and never will.

     We who believe in Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, have been called by the LORD God to carry the Living (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Censer, Jesus, whose atonement covering, like the incense of the odor of sacrifice, covers and appeases the fiery coals of wrath and destruction.

     If you would like to know more about the Censer of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Most High Father, as priests in Your Kingdom (1 Pet. 2:9-10), You have given us the great privilege of carrying and ministering the Living Censer that is Your Son, Jesus. Lord, let me put aside all selfish and worldly thoughts and ways, and serve and love You with all my heart, mind, and strength. Turn me, Lord, away from the corruption of Korah and his followers, and cause me to embrace Your Kingship, Lordship and reign over my life. Let me be as a little child before You and let me esteem others more than myself. Keep me from challenging You as my Shepherd and King by seeking my own ways instead of Yours. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior. AMEN."

 *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13. 

Covering

For me, this week's Sabbath reading portion deals with an issue that may still challenge each of us, which is "spiritual covering". Our spiritual covering is an even more powerful protective force than a natural covering such as the roof of a house. Imagine what damage can be done to the inside of a house if its roof is removed. Jesus described the Kingdom of God as a great tree that grew from a small seed, and the covering of that tree serves as a shelter and haven for the smallest and most defenseless of God's creatures (Mt. 13:31-32). If He covers the birds, how much more will He cover us? As God, in His grace, establishes His covering of salvation, peace, favor, protection, and provision over each of us, why would anyone attempt to remove it? Yet we do, as we will see, and we have done so since the divinely created (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Adam (Gen. 2:8) threw off the glorious covering of the royal dominion given to him by God in the Garden of Eden (meaning "delight, pleasure, dainty, finery, sumptuous, softly, to luxuriate"). This Sabbath, we are still in the fourth book of the Bible, which we call "Numbers", but is properly known in Hebrew as B'Midbar, meaning "In the wilderness" as mentioned in Numbers 1:1. Up to this point in our studies in Numbers, God has described His people as armies being set in order for war (see Num. 1:2-3). In the midst of this great army encampment, sat the Tabernacle of God. Encircling the Tabernacle, the Levites were encamped. They had been set apart in specific divisions within their tribe, depending upon their work of service in the Tabernacle before God. Outwardly from the Tabernacle and Levites in the center, the tribal divisions of the armies of God encamped to the north, south, east, and west in the form of a cross. This week's reading, which includes Num. 16-17, is titled Korach, which means "Bald, or to make oneself bald"! There is also a meaning associated with Korach having to do with ice and hail. From this we can get a picture of ice and hail, both being destructive forces, beating upon a surface until the covering, or hair, has been worn away. Korach also happened to be a man's name, Korah, who was one of the Levites (Num. 16:1). Korah and a handful of others led a rebellion against the leaders whom God had appointed to cover His people, Moses and Aaron. These same rebels convinced 250 of the most renowned elders of Israel to join them. It is a strategy of the spirit of rebellion to try to cover its intentions behind a facade of honor and respectability in men's eyes. Shakespeare wrote about this kind of strategy in his play based upon historical fact, "Julius Caesar". In this play, the group of assassins recruited Rome's most highly honored and respected citizen, Brutus, to join their plot by cloaking it in terms that would appeal to such an honorable man. Jesus prophesied our own vulnerability to liars and imposters in the time before His return (Mt. 24:23-25). More than ever, we will need the protection of the spiritual covering in our lives that God has provided, won't we?. In the situation involving the rebels in the Israelite camp in the wilderness, there was a bitterness, envy and resentment behind their voices as the rebels said to Moses and Aaron: "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Num. 16"1-3). Bitterness, resentment, and envy sound like hot emotions, but they are really very cold, like the "ice and hail" that can "make bald" and destroy a covering. Moses' reaction was to fall on his face before the LORD (v. 4). The rebels against Moses and Aaron then stirred the whole congregation of Israel against them, and the glory of the LORD appeared and told Moses that He was about to consume in a moment all of the people. Moses immediately began to re-establish a covering over the people before the LORD (Num. 16:19-24). The LORD then only dealt with the rebels and the 250 renowned elders who initiated the rebellion in a terrifying manner. The earth opened under Korah and his conspirators, and they went down alive into the pit, and the 250 elders were consumed by fire that came out from the LORD (v. 31-35). The people around them were horrified by the sight. Strong action had been necessary for God to re-affirm His appointed leaders, and to re-establish His covering over the Israelites. Amazingly, this may not have been the end of Korah's story. There is a deep mystery here involving God's covering. We can view this important mystery that will have wider implications in Psalm 88. It is a Psalm of the sons of Korah, as it is revealed in the introduction to the Psalm. The sons of Korah were Levites who sang in anointed worship in the Temple. However, Korah and his whole household went alive down into the pit (see Num. 16:23-27, 31-33). So how are there sons of Korah to sing to the LORD generations later? There are various guesses as to how this could have happened, but none of those guesses consider a miracle of the LORD. The Psalm is a desperate cry from someone alive in the lowest pit (v. 6-7). Part of that cry to the LORD is: "Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? (Selah). Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?" (v. 10-11). Did you know that God can hear your cries and cover you even in your lowest pit? David knew that (Ps. 139:5-12). David called this knowledge of God's covering "too wonderful" for him. Jonah knew it, as he cried out from the Sheol pit (place of the dead) in the belly of the fish (Jonah 2:1-6). It is even based upon this mystery of Jonah that Christ declared the sign of His own resurrection from death (Mt. 12:38-41). A man named Heman wrote Psalm 88. The name Heman/aman means "faithful/believe, assurance, bring up, nurse, to be carried by a nurse, support, foster mother/father". Heman, grandson of Samuel, who was also a miracle son of Korah, stood in and wrote for this person who was in the hopelessness of the pit. I will leave this mystery of the covering of God in Psalm 88 here. Back to the Israelites in the wilderness. The spiritual forces of ice and hail that make one bald, and had tried to destroy the covering of God over His people for their survival, were not done yet. The very next day, after the earth had swallowed up the rebels, all the congregation of Israel accused Moses and Aaron saying: "You have killed the people of God." (Num. 16:41). It seems that lies always rise up in an instant, but are slow to die. Again, because the people were rejecting His appointed covering for the people, God told Moses that He would consume this congregation in a moment, and a deadly plague broke out among the people (v. 44-45). Again, Moses fell on his face, not for his own sake, but to cover a people who kept trying to throw off their divine covering. Following Moses' instructions, Aaron then took his priestly censor, and ran into the midst of the people making atonement for them: "And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped." Over fourteen thousand people had been killed by the plague (v. 46-50). God did not stop here, however. In order to further make clear the importance of the prophetic and priestly covering that God, not man, had appointed in order to preserve His people, God caused Moses to collect all of the rods that represented the leaders of the twelve tribes, or armies, of Israel, including Aaron's rod representing the tribe of Levi, the priests. The rods represented the names of the fathers and identities of each tribe, and the authority of the leader of each tribe. The rods were collected and placed within the Tabernacle before the Ark of Testimony. The next day, as the rods were collected, Aaron's (aleph-tav[Alpha and Omega]) rod had not only budded in flowers (sis/sus - blossom, flower, shining gold plate on high priest's turban, a wing gleaming in the air/blossom, shine, sparkle, gleam, show forth), but had also produced ripe almonds (saqed/saqad - almond tree, earliest bloom, first to awake from winter/watch, wake, remain, hasten) (Num. 17:1-9, see also Mt. 24:42-44, Mt. 25:13, Lk. 21:29-36, 2 Peter 3:10-12, 1 Thess. 5:1-6). This miraculous event fulfilled the prophecy that the LORD made in v. 5. We can see in the Hebrew meanings that the appointment of Aaron, and God's re-affirming of Aaron as Israel's priestly covering, also pertains to the Messiah's or Christ's covering over God's people. The LORD said that the budded and fruited (aleph-tav) rod of Aaron the high priest was to be kept in the Tabernacle, before the Ark of the Testimony" as an (aleph-vaw-tav = "God nailed to the Cross") sign (ot - sign, mark, evidence, miracle) against the rebels (meri/mara - bitter, bitterness/to stroke or lash with a whip, to resist, oppose), that you may put their complaints away from Me." (v. 10). We see again in the meaning of the Hebrew word for "rebels" the cold ice and hail of bitterness. In another portion from Korach/Bald, this week's Sabbath reading in 1 Samuel 11, an enemy, Nahash (meaning "serpent, dragon, snake, serpent idol, divination, enchanter, whisper"), king of the the Ammonites ("tribe, kindred, people together, to grow dark, held dark, overshadow, eclipse"), laid siege to Jabesh (yabes - dry, dried up, utterly withered, ashamed, confounded, wither away) in Gilead (meaning "hard, stony region") in Israel. From the Hebrew meanings here, this is about the worst enemy, the serpent, the dragon himself, Satan, that anyone can have. This enemy, named here as Nahash, brought spiritual darkness upon the land, and in that vein, he threatened to put out the right eyes of all the men of Jabesh so that all Israel would suffer reproach (1 Sam. 11:2). The forced removal of an eye was considered cruel and degrading punishment when a people were conquered. The town that this enemy came against, Jabesh, had become a (spiritual) withering, dry place that had drawn this powerful enemy's attack. How had this city fallen into this withered condition which caused them to become vulnerable to this enemy? The people of Israel, had just rejected God's appointed prophet/priest Samuel, who judged them righteously (see 1 Sam. 7:2-6), as a covering over them. They instead demanded a king like the other nations around them (see 1 Sam. 8:4-7, 21-22). God chose Saul to be anointed king over Israel (1 Sam. 9:15-16, 1 Sam. 10:1), even as He warned the people that they would regret rejecting Him as their covering and King, in exchange for a man like themselves to rule them. However, even as the LORD commanded that Saul be made king: "...some rebels said, 'How can this man save us?' So they despised him (Saul), and brought him no presents. But he (Saul) held his peace." (1 Sam. 10:27). The "rebels" spoken of in this verse are also called "the sons/children of Belial" meaning "worthless, wicked, vile, ruin, destruction, destroyer, ungodly". Again there were those who rejected first God, and then Samuel as the covering that the LORD had appointed over His people, and then they rejected the king who had been ordained by God to cover His people. A king like Nahash, who is named to represent Satan himself, would understand the significance of God's people rejecting their supernatural covering. Satan was described in scripture as "the anointed cherub who covers...perfect...", who had been established on the holy mountain of God. This covering angel became filled with violence and pride, and had to be cast out from the mountain of God (Ezek. 28:13-17). King Saul would eventually prove out the warning that God gave the people about the oppression of having a king, but he also, being moved by the Spirit of God, mustered an army of 330,000 from all of Israel on this occasion, crossed to Jabesh on the eastern side of the Jordan River, and defeated the serpent king, Nahash of the Ammonites, rescuing the people of Jabesh Gilead (1 Sam. 11:8, 11). At a later date, David would walk in the understanding of God's covering when King Saul relentlessly chased him in order to kill him. David refused to do harm to Saul when given the opportunity, understanding the danger of removing the covering which God had put into place over His people (see 1 Sam. 24:4-7). As Saul became more and more corrupt, God eventually dealt with him, ending his life. In another example of the glory of God's covering of His people, Psalm 91 praises Him: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." (Ps. 91:1-2). The Psalm continues, with great power, describing the covering and protection of the LORD. So important is the concept of the covering of God, that God makes sure to tell us that He even covers Himself (see Ps. 97:2, Ps. 18:11, Ex. 19:9, Deut. 4:11-12). The Messiah, Jesus, as the ultimate Anointed covering (for sin), was sent to God's people. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, prophetically seeing the consequences of their rejection of His covering: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate (eremos - lonely, deprived of aid and protection, bereft like a flock deserted by the shepherd, or a woman rejected by her husband); for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Mt. 23:37-39, see also Lk. 19:41-44). Imagine also the moment when Pontius Pilate, a Roman governor within Caesar's empire, offered Jesus to the people as their king, but the people of God again rejected this anointed and appointed covering, shouting, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!...We have no king but Caesar!" How dangerous it was for Pilate personally to call Jesus a king of the people, when he knew that the only kings approved to rule Israel by the Roman Emperor, were the Herods! Yet Pilate called Jesus "Your King". (Jn. 19:13-16). This was not the way for a Roman governor to live long and prosper in the Roman Empire. However, even Pilate knew the importance of the One whom the people of God refused to receive. Perhaps we think that we, the Church of believers, would never reject the covering that God has set into place over us. However, everyday we make the choice to receive or reject His covering. All of these lessons recorded in scripture above, were recorded for our benefit and learning, not only for the benefit of the generation that had to learn it the hard way (2 Tim. 3:16-17). In one example of falling into the temptation of rejecting God's covering, Paul wrote to a church of "foolish" Galatians, because they had rejected faith in the covering of grace achieved by the death of their Savior, and chose instead legalistic doctrines of seeking righteousness by man's own efforts (Gal. 3:1-9). The covering of God is something that cannot be bought, nor established by men's own efforts. This covering is sovereignly anointed and appointed in and by the LORD. The Lord is looking for us to receive His covering joyfully and thankfully in faith, and the trusting obedience that accompanies faith. To enter into the covering of God, or to learn more about it, you can join with my prayer: "Father of all creation, from the beginning, You provided Your covering to man, so that he wouldn't be destroyed. You covered Your people in the wilderness, as You established their purposes in You. You provided the ultimate covering of Your Kingdom in the atoning blood of your Son, Jesus, that alone delivers us from death. I receive Your covering over my life with thanks. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to remain under the shadow of Your covering, so that I do not wander from it. Cleanse me of the pride and self-will that might rise up in my heart against Your covering. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Atonement

These past few Sabbaths, the readings have focused on the priesthood. This week's Sabbath reading titled Korach, meaning "baldness", does so also. To me the term "baldness" in this reading refers to a lack of spiritual covering, and we will learn what the priest did in the middle of this dire circumstance. We are also called kings and priests, and a royal priesthood unto the Lord under the new covenant in Christ. This made me think about my role as a believer-priest when the spiritual covering over a people has been removed. Our Sabbath reading begins in Numbers 16 with a terrible rebellion that starts small but eventually encompasses all of the congregation of Israel. The rebellion started with four men, one of whom, Korah, was a Levite from the same tribe as Moses and Aaron, the tribe of the priesthood. The other three rebels were from the tribe of Reuben. Those four men recruited two hundred and fifty tribal leaders of the congregation who were: "representatives of the congregation, men of renown." (Num. 16:1-2). The rebellion began in covetousness, envy and resentment, but was fed by false accusations and lies. These four men and the tribal leaders accused Moses and Aaron of appointing themselves to be the leaders of the Israelites. They said: "You take too much on yourselves, for all the congregation is holy...and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?...Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey (referring to Egypt), to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting like a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards..." (v. 3, 13-14). Moses pointed out to Korah the Levite that he was showing that he despised his own calling of the LORD to serve in the tabernacle, and coveted and envied another's calling instead (v. 9-10). Because of this, they were "gathered together against the LORD" (v. 11). The Levite rebel, Korah, then gathered all of the congregation against Moses and Aaron at the door of the tabernacle. So now all of the people have turned against Moses and Aaron. The glory of the LORD appeared before them all. The LORD not only planned to deal with the rebels, but also to consume the whole congregation in a moment (v. 19-21). Moses and Aaron fell on their faces interceding with God on behalf of the congregation. God allowed the congregation to separate themselves from the rebels, as the earth opened up underneath the four original rebels and the two hundred and fifty tribal leaders who had joined them, and they fell down into the open earth alive, and the earth closed over them (v. 28-33). However: "On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, 'You have killed the people of the LORD.' (v. 41). The glory of the LORD appeared again, and the LORD repeated that He would consume the people. Moses and Aaron again fell on their faces before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement (kapar - to cover over, to be covered, to overspread, to cover (sins), to make expiation for an offender, reconciliation, forgive, appease, pacify) for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." (v. 45-46). Aaron did as Moses had spoken, "and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident." (v. 45-49). In making atonement for the people, Aaron physically placed himself in the middle of the plague to stand between those who were dead, and those who were yet alive. The fast-moving plague was stopped at that point. Before this incident, atonement was observed as a feast day of the LORD, carried out on an appointed day, in an appointed place, the Holy of Holies, and with a specific sacrifice. In this instance, however, making atonement for the people was accomplished by an act of intercession using a censer and incense. How did God feel about this intercession of atonement that Aaron ministered at the command of Moses? After this incident, in Numbers 17, the LORD lets us know. All of the rods that represented the fathers of the tribes of Israel, with their tribes' names written on them, were brought before the LORD in the tabernacle. Aaron's rod, with his name written on it for the Levites, was included with the other rods (Num. 17:1-7). The LORD said that the rod of the man whom He will choose will blossom. He would settle the complaints of the children of Israel against Moses and Aaron in this way. The next day, Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, "and behold, the rod of Aaron, for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (v. 8 KJV). Not only had the rod, a long dead staff, produced blossoms, but it produced almond fruit as if it were a living tree. Not only did it produce almonds, but ripe almonds. Although the wording of this verse in English sounds repetitive, the Hebrew meanings of the words here are not repetitive, and each phrase adds a new and different meaning. The four phrases used here in v. 8 have the following meanings: "budded": parah - bud, blossom, break forth, extend wings and fly. "Brought forth buds": yasa/perah - deliver, lead out, bring out, proceed/flower, blossom. "Bloomed blossoms": sus/sis - flourish, to shine, gleam, twinkle, to be bright, to glance through a lattice/ blossom, wings, feather. "Yielded almonds" - gamal/saqed/saqad - dealt bountifully, bestowed, recompense, do good, wean a child or mature, ripening/almond trees, almonds, the first tree to awaken out of winter sleep/watch, keep watch over, wake, hasten, sleepless. Regarding this budded rod of Aaron's, the LORD instructed Moses: "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony (meaning the ark of the covenant), to be kept as a sign against the rebels (meri - rebellious, bitterness, stubborn refusal to obey; root word mara- "stroke, strike, slash with a whip"), that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." (v. 10). Not only did Aaron's rod bud as a fruit of his atonement for the people, but it remained before the Testimony of the LORD as a sign against such rebellion, on penalty of death. In this Sabbath reading, we can see the role of the priest as one who stood between the living and the dead in a plague, and made an atonement, even for rebellious people who falsely accused him and resented him. The LORD recognized the power and work of that atonement through the budding of Aaron's staff. His Son, Jesus, as our High Priest, looked upon those who were crucifying Him, who had mocked and whipped Him in their rebellion against God, and said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Lk. 23:34). He is our atonement (Rom. 5:11), and not only for us, but for the whole world (1 Jn. 2:2). Jesus' atonement is a one time offering that extends into eternity: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting/expecting (ekdechomai - receive, accept, grant access to, embrace, make one's own, to take with the hand) till His enemies (echthros - hostile, hating, opposing) are made (tithemi - lay down, bend down, kneel down, carry no longer, establish) His footstool (hypopodion - among, by, or under foot, a foot on the neck of an enemy, or at the feet as a disciple)." (Heb. 10:10, 12-13). Scripture says also that every knee should bow at the name of Jesus, and every tongue should confess Him (Phil. 2:8-11). Our priestly ministering in intercession of His atonement for the people plays a role in that transforming victory, I'm sure. If you would like to know more about our priesthood in Christ, you can pray with me: "Lord Jesus, You have given us the priestly ministry of reconciliation through Your covering atonement. Fill me with the Holy Spirit who shows me how to pray and intercede effectively in the middle of world-wide rebellion against God, and the resulting deadly plague. You are sitting at the right hand of the Father waiting expectantly to receive those who will come forth from Your atonement, and sit at Your feet as disciples, or bow at Your feet as a subject before You. As the time grows short, Your desire is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance and salvation. Show me how to stand in the gap, and make up the hedge with my censer of incense, or prayers, for those who are uncovered and in danger of perishing. I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN."

Submarines

I was reminded this morning of something the Lord taught me many years ago. When we are called by the Lord out of darkness and into His marvelous light, we wonder what place we have in the Body of Christ. I can remember so many saying that the Lord called them to be pastors, or prophets, or evangelists, and so on, but especially pastors. Everyone sitting next to me in church claimed they were supposed to be pastors. How could this be?! It was not my job to judge, but it seemed to me that many were coveting offices and positions that they weren't really called to. You probably remember a lot of this going on as well.
At this point, the Lord began to tell me the story of the submarine and the aircraft carrier. I kid you not!
He showed me a huge U.S. aircraft carrier sitting in the sea. Aircraft were being launched from its deck. The planes were coming and going from her. It's large crew were scurrying across its deck. It was very dramatic and impressive. You could almost hear the naval theme "Anchors Aweigh" blasting through the air! (Listen Here). The Lord said that some in the Body were like this aircraft carrier- certainly a mighty weapon in warfare.
Then He showed me a long, dark submarine. He made me think about the characteristics of this vessel. I saw it quietly submerge, going dark, and silent, disappearing beneath the waves. It could travel through shallower depths, even coming very close to a nation's coastline. It also travelled into the deep abysses and canyons of the oceans. It was designed for this purpose, to withstand the depths. Its smaller sized crew often had to spend lengths of time whispering, or not speaking at all, in order for the vessel to run silently. It "saw" differently, through a periscope. It "heard" differently, by the pings of sonar. It was at its most dangerous when you couldn't see it. It could stay silently submerged for up to six months. It could launch nuclear weapons. If all land and air armaments were attacked and destroyed, the last line of defense is the submerged nuclear submarine. But its strength is that fact that it is not seen, heard, nor detected. It is not a showy vessel, nor beautiful to look at, and you certainly can't launch or land aircraft on it, not even a  helicopter. When it runs on the surface of the water, it is not very maneuverable, but under the water, it can turn beautifully, rise and dive sharply and quickly. It is your worst enemy, or your greatest tool of defense. It is specially designed to fill its purpose. It is not as outwardly impressive as an aircraft carrier, but it is perfect for what is needed.
When I considered it, I thought, "Aircraft carriers are very cool, but it's awesome to be a submarine."
Sometimes in the Body of Christ we all want to be aircraft carriers, and indeed, I'm sure many are. But if you have spent many years feeling frustrated or unhappy because you are not being used by God as an aircraft carrier, may I make the case for, and ask you to consider, that it may be time to think about the awesomeness of submarines. I am thrilled and fulfilled, and so grateful to my Father that I only have to surface every six months or so. Since He showed me this wonder, I am so happy in the deep, and in the silence, "hearing" and "seeing" in the special way that He has equipped me to operate. Bless Him always.
You know that the Apostle Paul taught us in scripture that we are not all the same part of the Body, and each part has its own value and purpose. Each part needs the valuable gift of the other parts in order to function as a whole. Yet we still desire certain parts over others. This can turn out very sadly, and be very destructive.
The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On against the anointing, and calling of Moses and Aaron is just such an example. They coveted the leadership position, and encouraged 250 of the best leaders of the Israelites to join in their rebellion. I would like to look at Korah's story for a moment. Korah was a descendent of Levi's third son, Kohath. Levi's other two sons were Gershon and Merari. The descendants of Gershon and Merari were given charge of the outer areas of the Tabernacle and court, the panels, curtains, frames, ropes, pegs, etc. that went into that assembly. These items were loaded onto carts to be moved from place to place with the people of Israel as they travelled through the wilderness. But the Kohathites were in charge of the inner curtains and furnishings. This included the altars, the lamp stand, the showbread table, the ark of the covenant. These items differed from the others because they could not be loaded onto carts to be moved. The Kohathites had to carry these things on poles on their shoulders. Not only that, but they could not touch the items, which had to be wrapped in special protective coverings (Num. 4). Touching the items meant death. So the Kohathites, which included Korah, had to shoulder these things on poles, rather than put them on a cart. Korah and others were dissatisfied with their place, and assignment. Though they expressed their resentment with Moses, they really resented God, because their roles were determined and assigned by Him.
Their rebellion ended in the horror of their destruction, as they, and all who were with them, were swallowed up by an earthquake (Num. 16). But Num. 26:11 tells us something interesting:
"Nevertheless, the children (sons) of Korah did not die."
The sons of Korah were not destroyed with their father. One descendant of Korah is the prophet Samuel (the descendants of Levi are listed in 1 Chron.6). The Sons of Korah fought alongside David, and were appointed by him as singers and psalmists in the Tabernacle, and Temple later. The Sons of Korah wrote 25 of the Psalms: 42-50, 62, and 72-85. Their Psalms express a spirit of great gratitude and longing for God. Psalm 42 is the inspiration for our great worship song "As the Deer Panteth for the Water".
Korah wanted to be Moses, and coveted his position. But Korah was a worshipper. God specially gifted and designed him and his progeny for this great purpose. How sad that he only saw what someone else had, and did not see his own great gift and destiny.
We cannot afford to live our lives coveting someone else's calling and purpose.  Our Father has designed each of us for a specific purpose. We cannot continue to reject His headship, and His design for us.

Our Father has designed spiritual submarines too!

"As the Deer"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gaT4q9eJ1U