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. 

Authority

      In the New Testament, we are told in several examples of the power and authority that has been given to the believer in Jesus Christ by Him and of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sends into the believers' lives. Jesus made clear that all authority/power (exousia/exesti - power of choice, permission, ability or strength with which one is endued (see endyo below), power of authority and privilege, power of rule or government/legal) has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. (Mt. 28:18). Here are just a few examples of the power accompanied by the authority given to believers by Jesus:

     "Behold, I (Jesus) send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (endyo - clothed with, arrayed in, to invest with clothing, sink into clothing) with power (dynamis - strength, power, ability, power for performing miracles, moral power and excellence of soul) from on high (hypsos/hyper - height, heaven, elevation, exalted, high rank or station/exceedingly abundantly, above, beyond, over)." (Lk. 24:49 also Acts 1:8).

     "Then He (Jesus) called His twelve disciples together and gave them power (dynamis - see above) and authority (exousia - see above) over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Lk. 9:1-2).

     "Behold, I (Jesus) give you (seventy disciples) the authority/power (exousia - see above) to trample on serpents (ophis - serpent, especially satan, artful, cunning and malicious) and scorpions (skorpios - concealed, lurking, piercing poisonous sting), and over all the power (dynamis - see above) of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Lk. 10:19).

     (Jesus said) "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:22-23).

     "Assuredly, I (Jesus) say to you, whatever you (the disciples) bind (deo - to tie, fasten with chains, to forbid, declare illicit) on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose (lyo - to loose one who is bound, set free, deprive of authority, declare unlawful, overthrow, do away with) on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Mt. 18:18-20 and also Mt. 16:19).

     Whatever power and authority the believers in Christ exercise, it is to reflect and represent the power and authority of Christ and as given by the Holy Spirit. It is not meant to be empowered by our own ideas, emotions, or will, all of which comprises our souls. It is by the Spirit of God.

     Even Jesus declared that He only did what He saw His Father in heaven doing (Jn. 5:19), and He only said what He heard His Father in heaven saying (Jn. 12:49-50). He was completely submitted to His Father's will in all things, saying, "...not My will, but Yours be done." (Lk. 22:42, Mt. 26:39).

     This is the high standard set in exercising the power and authority given to us by Christ. There is no other acceptable standard.

     The above scriptures from the New Testament relating to power and authority have been included here to help our understanding of this week's Sabbath reading portion titled Chukkat, meaning "Ordinance (of)". The Hebrew word chukkat/chukat is found in Num. 19:1-2: "Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 'This is the ordinance (huqqa/hoq/haqaq - statute, ordinance, appointed, limit, prescribed, established or defined/bounds, boundary, decree, appointed/lawgiver, governor, one who decrees, inscribe, engrave, cut into stone or metal tablets, stamp violently on something) of the law which the LORD has commanded..."

     We can also see the purpose of the ordinance, or huqqa, by the meanings of the Hebrew letters that form the word: cheth, qoph, heh. The combined meaning found in the letters could be expressed as "Behold, revealed is the division, the separation and protection between what is in the inner chamber from what is outside the tent wall." We know that what is in the inner chamber of the tent/tabernacle is holy and separated from what is outside the curtained and gated outer perimeter of the tent/tabernacle.

     There is also to be a protective separation or division between the holy people of God and the profane, or fleshly things of the world. Paul wrote this question: "...For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?...Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord..." (excerpt 2 Cor. 6:14-18, also 1 Thess. 5:4-5, Eph. 5:8-11).

     In this week's Chuqqat or "Ordinance" Sabbath portion, the Israelites led by Moses and Aaron, came again into a part of the wilderness without water: "Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses and Aaron and spoke, saying: 'If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! (Referring to Korah's rebellion - see Num. 16:31-35, 47-49.) Why have you brought up the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?..." (Num. 20:2-5).

     This generation of the Israelites had already been told by the LORD that they would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land, but instead, wander in the wilderness for forty years and, with just a few exceptions, die in the wilderness. (see Num. 14:26-38). This was done because of their previous unbelief and disobedience to God. The Israelites had also seen the LORD produce water from a rock before when they were without water. (Ex. 17:5-7). On that occasion, Moses was instructed by the LORD to strike the rock with his rod/staff, and the water would then flow. This time, however, the LORD gave these instructions to Moses: "Take the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) rod (matte - staff, branch, tribe, rod or scepter of a king, support of walking, support of life, soldier's spear, used in chastising); you and your brother Aaron gather the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water...and give drink to the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation and their animals." (Num. 20:8).

     These were the instructions that Moses received from the LORD. However, Moses also spoke words over the (aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) congregation that the LORD had not commanded him to speak, saying: "Hear now you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (v. 10). Then, instead of speaking to the rock as instructed this time by God, Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. (v. 11). Water did flow out of the rock abundantly.

     The rod that Moses carried was designated by God at the burning bush to be proof to the Hebrew slaves in Egypt that the LORD had appeared (ra'a - to be visible, to gaze at, to be caused to be seen, to look upon) to Moses. (Ex. 4:1-5). The LORD also told Moses that he was to do signs (ot - signs, miracles, distinguishing mark, token, proof) with the rod in his hand. (Ex. 4:17, see also Mk. 16:17-18: signs follow believers in Christ). It is with this rod that Moses demonstrated the power and authority of God over Pharaoh, his magicians, the whole country of Egypt and their gods, and Moses' own role as the appointed messenger of Almighty God.

     At the same time as the rod of Moses was designated by God for signs, God also said to Moses: "Who has made man's mouth?...Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say." (Ex. 4:11-12). Isn't this what Jesus said also? He spoke only what He heard the Father speak (see above). He also told His disciples that they were not to give thought as to what to say, that the Holy Spirit would give them the words to speak. (Lk. 12:11-12). The phrase "the authority of the believer" to me, therefore, is somewhat of a misnomer. The authority of a believer is the authority of the Father and the Son manifested in an obedient and submitted servant, after the pattern established by Jesus with His heavenly Father. (see Phil. 2:5-13).

     There were many occasions when the LORD said to Moses: "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them...", but this event in the wilderness was not one of them.

     Philippians 2, referred to in the notation above, continues, bringing this instruction from Paul that should remind us of this event involving Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness: "Do all things without complaining and disputing (dialogismos/dialogizomai - disputing, arguing, the thinking of a man within himself, questioning what is true, doubting, reasoning, opinion/to reason, dispute, reckon up reasons, revolve in one's mind), that you may become blameless (amemptos - free from fault or defect, deserving no censure) and harmless (akeraios - pure, innocent, without a mixture of evil), children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life..." (Phil. 2:14-16, excerpt).

     This was the LORD's response to the actions of Moses: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them." (Num. 20:12). Moses would not be entering and taking Israel into the land. His brother Aaron would soon die at Mount Hor on the border of Edom, as the LORD said to Moses and Aaron: "...for he (Aaron) shall not enter the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My word at the water of Meribah (meriba/rib - strife, contention, quarrel/contend, chide, debate, wrangle, rebuke, complain, adversary)." (v. 22-24). Aaron's son, Eleazar would go up on the mountain with Moses and Aaron, Aaron's garments would be removed and put on his son, "and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain." (v. 25-28).

     Moses would later say that he pleaded (hanan - implore, have mercy on, be gracious, show pity and favor) the LORD to let him cross over the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Jordan to see (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the land, but the LORD refused him. The LORD would let Moses look upon the land from the top of a mountain, but he could not enter. (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Joshua (yehosua - "Jehovah is salvation", a form of the Hebrew name of Jesus) would lead the children of Israel into the land instead. (Deut. 3:23-28).

     Another reading from this Chukkat, "Ordinance" Sabbath portion says: "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: Do not harden your hearts, as in the day of rebellion (meriba - see above)...For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest." (Ps. 95, "A Call to Worship and Obedience", v. 6-11, excerpt).

     Paul revealed in Romans: "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God...because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God...even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Rom. 8:19-23, excerpt).

      As sons or children of God through Jesus, we have something that is waiting to be manifested in us, and when it is manifested, all creation will also manifest it and be delivered. It is through belief in Jesus that we attain the exousia (see above) power of authority to become sons of God, born by the will of God. (see Jn. 1:12-13). It is by being led by the Spirit of God, and not ourselves, that we receive the Spirit of adoption as children of God and joint heirs with Christ. (see Rom. 8:14-17).

     A great deal, especially in these current times, depends upon our correct understanding of the authority of the Father and the Son that has been placed into the hands of the believers. To this end, we need to display more of Him and His ways and thoughts, and less of our own flesh and soul.

     If you would like to know and understand more about the authority that the Lord has entrusted into our hands, you can pray with me: "Father in heaven, You have done awesome and great things. You have sent Your beloved Son to guide us back into Your presence and grace. You have entrusted Your Son, Jesus, and those who believe in Him to walk in the authority and inheritance of servant sonship. Father, I want to speak what Your Spirit tells me to speak. I want to do the things that You show me to do. Let Your sons, Your children, be manifested in the creation. Let Your deliverance flow through our words and deeds as directed by Your will, in the same way that You brought millions of Your people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus. 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. 

Sent

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Korach, which means "Bald". This title comes from the beginning of the reading portion in Numbers 16: "Now Korah (qorah/qarah - bald/to be bald, to make bald, make oneself bald because of anyone's death) 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 (qum - rise up, stood up, arise, raise, to raise oneself, to stand, to establish) before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown." (Num. 16:1-2). Korah, spoken of in these verses, was the great-grandson of Levi and was one of the Levites who served in the tabernacle.

     These last few weeks we have seen the element of "rising, lifting up, exalting" being an important theme in the Sabbath readings. The Hebrew words nasa and ala were used to express this. We see this "rising, lifting up" theme again this week, but in a rebellious act against God: "They (those named above) gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much (rab/rabab - many, great, captain, greatly increase, officer, prince, much, a master, magnitude/be or become much, become great, increase, multiplied) upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt (nasa - to lift up, bear up, to sustain, forgive, exalt, to increase) yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (v. 3).

     This is called "Korah's Rebellion", although Korah made sure to enlist the support of 250 of the leaders (nasi/nasa - prince, captain, chief, ruler, one lifted up, exalted one, vapor or mist which ascends) of Israel. This rebellion, however, was founded in a lie. The rebels accused Moses and Aaron of having taken the role of leadership upon themselves, exalting themselves above the other Israelites. We know that the LORD called a reluctant Moses to this office of leadership, and He appointed Aaron also (Ex. 3:9-11, Ex. 4:10-17). Neither Moses nor Aaron appointed themselves, nor considered their roles to be something to be desired. We also know that privately, Moses cried to the LORD as he felt overwhelmed by the position to which the LORD had appointed him (Num. 11:11-14). During a previous painful rebellion against Moses' leadership from within his own family, the scriptures noted: "Now the man Moses was very (meod - exceedingly, greatly, very, utterly) humble (anav/ana - very meek, humble, poor, lowly/be bowed down, humble, to stoop, humble oneself, looking down, chasten self, submit oneself), more than all men who were on the face of the earth." (Num. 12:3).

     It is also interesting that the first thing that Moses did on hearing the false accusation that he had lifted himself was to physically lower himself: "So when Moses heard it, he fell (napal - fall down, cast down, lay, overthrow, prostrate oneself before, perish, slay, throw down) on his face..." (v. 4). He then told Korah that it will be the LORD who will choose who is to come near to Him (v. 5-7, see also Ezek. 44:15-16, Num. 17:5). Moses also said, "...you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things, for I have not done them of my own will...these men have rejected the LORD." (v. 28, 30). It is fitting that the LORD chose to deal with those who "rose up" before Moses by sending them downward: "Now it came to pass, as he (Moses) finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them (Korah, Dathan and Abiram and families), and the earth opened its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. So they and all those with them went down (yarad - go downwards, descend, fell, sink down, be prostrate, lay prostrated, bring down) alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished among the assembly...And a fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense." (v. 31-33, 35).

     The Levites had been chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle, but Korah coveted a "higher" position, even the positions of Moses and Aaron, who were themselves Levites. As Moses pointed out, these rebellious Levites were not rejecting Moses but the LORD. 

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, we see the same thing again. The appointed priest, judge and prophet of Israel, Samuel, had been rejected by the people of Israel who wanted a king instead like the nations around them. This choice made perfect sense to the people of Israel. Samuel was old, his sons were corrupt, and there was an enemy king, Nahash (nahas - serpent, dragon, snake, viper, image of a serpent, practice divination, soothsayer, use sorcery) of the Ammonites threatening them. However, in all of their thinking, they forgot that it was through the anointed and appointed office of Samuel as priest, judge, and prophet of Israel that caused the LORD to save them from the attacking Philistines just shortly before this incident. How short people's memories are! Not only that, but the LORD then kept the Philistines from harming Israel for the rest of Samuel's life. Israel also had peace with the Amorites (see 1 Sam. 7:7-14). This is exactly how the LORD miraculously works through His appointed servants in leadership on behalf of His people and their nation. The LORD assured Samuel that it was not he, Samuel, who had been rejected by the people, but they had rejected the LORD from reigning over them in favor of a king. (1 Sam. 8:6-9). 

     After Samuel had anointed Saul as their first king as the LORD had instructed him to do, Samuel began to teach Israel of the wickedness they had truly done by this, and what would befall them as a result of removing the LORD from reigning over them: "It is the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt...your fathers cried out to the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place." (1 Sam. 12:6, 8). Samuel told the people how the LORD had later heard their cries, even though they had sinned in the worship of false gods. They were being oppressed by enemies and the LORD sent deliverers to rescue them: "And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD God was your king." (v. 11-12). Because they had been wicked and chosen a king from among themselves rather than the LORD, Samuel said that he would call on the LORD to send thunder and rain upon the wheat crop that was then ready to be harvested, which would damage the crop (v.16-17). The people feared the LORD and Samuel when this sign came to pass, and Samuel said to them, "Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider the great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king." (v. 24-25).

     The LORD had exalted this small nation of people to be the only nation on earth to be supernaturally ruled and prospered directly by Him, but they preferred the rule of a man. The LORD had covered them and heard their cries for help and answered them, but they exchanged that covering for a king who was a man like them.

     There are many nations around the world facing wars, terrors, oppression, famine, drought, economic instability, and violence and crime, including my own nation. All of these conditions are prophesied in scripture and will grow torturously worse (Mt. 24, Lk. 21:5-36). These nations, like Israel in scripture above, prefer to rely upon their kings, presidents, prime ministers, dictators, tyrants, legislatures and courts to provide answers and deliverance. They refuse to turn to the LORD or to call upon His anointed and appointed spiritual leadership whom He has set in every nation on earth. My own nation's founding documents acknowledge the all-powerful and merciful hand of God in the establishing of my country, but this same nation has done all that they can to eliminate God from the hearts and minds of its people, and my nation as a result is in deep trouble. However, this Sabbath reading portion Korach, or "Bald", is a timely reminder that we have a miraculous resource available to us which we can no longer neglect. I will be praying that all leadership in my nation begin to reach out to the truly anointed and appointed spiritual leaders that the LORD has provided for such a time as this.

      Paul wrote this regarding all in authority over us: "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4). Are we praying for those in authority over us? The Lord will move through our prayers for them, to save souls and to provide a blessing for our lives.

     This is an age of lawlessness. Even the Church of believers in Christ often fail to acknowledge the role that anointed and appointed spiritual leadership provides in our lives, and instead, challenge and criticize that leadership at every opportunity. Jesus wept as He prophetically observed the terror that would be coming upon Jerusalem. Jesus wanted to gather them under His protective wings, but they refused (Mt. 23:37-39). The Lord moves miraculously through our anointed and appointed spiritual leaders to guide His people safely through danger. By weakening or removing the covering of the spiritual leadership that Jesus has provided and appointed to those who believe in Him, we become spiritually "bald" like Korah. We think to pull down our spiritual leaders in an effort to "lift up" ourselves into a higher position, but it is the Lord who determines who may come near to Him. Instead, the quickest way to "fall lower" is to disregard those appointed by Him, thereby disregarding Him who is head of all things to the church (Eph. 1:19-23). We believers have also begun to rely upon the political leadership of men as the Israelites did, rather than the rulership of the LORD. Our times are too dangerous for this choice.

     If you would like to know more about the importance of the LORD's appointed covering, you can pray with me: "Dear Father, forgive me for relying upon man instead of You. Forgive me for weakening Your covering over me, my family and my nation because of the rebellion in my heart. By Your Spirit, help me to seek Your face at every turn of events, and to believe Your Word which was given for my benefit. Help me to lift the arms of Your anointed servants, rather than pulling their arms down. I pray also for the heart of my nation, Lord, that we may turn back to You, our only true God, whose arms are always outstretched towards us. Have mercy and forgive our stubbornness, revive us, renew us, visit us, save us. I ask this in the name of Jesus. 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 Α Ω , 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.

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."