בס”ד

Parashat Korach: Numbers 16:1-18:32

Haftarah: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

Although it is the desire of everyone who speaks or writes in regard to Scriptural truth, that more and more people would embrace his words, one must be careful not to compromise the Word of G-d so that a greater percentage of people accept and agree with one’s teaching. As Paul states in his Epistle to the Galatians,

“…for if I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of the Messiah.”

Galatians 1:10

When one becomes more interested in the response of the people, rather than the accuracy of his words to the Scripture, then such a person ceases to be representing the L-rd. It is most grievous today that so many individuals who profess to be teaching the Bible are willing to set aside the moral, ethical, and spiritual standards of G-d to be pleasers of man. When the teacher becomes focused on pleasing the audience, then he will easily be deceived by Satan and will find himself asserting the exact opposite of G-d’s will. He will even present that which is opposition to G-d’s purposes as the very will of G-d. Such was the case in this week’s Torah reading.

The parashah opens with four men rebelling against G-d’s will for the Children of Israel to enter into the Land of Israel and for the leadership of Moses. HaShem had described this land as flowing with milk and honey. Yet when Moses summoned Datan and Aviram to discuss the rebellion they were leading with Korach, they refused saying,

“Is it not enough that you have brought us from the land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness that you also shall utterly dominate us?” Numbers 16:13

The leaders of this rebellion wanted to capture more and more support of the people. Moses was not very popular at this time, so Datan and Aviram gave no thought to if in fact Moses was the G-d appointed leader or not. Nor did they consider whom G-d placed in leadership; rather they dismissed Moses because the people preferred to be in Egypt instead of in the wilderness. Notice as well how they called Egypt, the very place which G-d had judged, the land flowing with milk and honey.

These rebels were one hundred percent wrong, but they did not fall under conviction when they spoke these words. For when one makes it his desire to gather support, instead of relaying truth, he will become hardened to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Many believers today have grown insensitive to the standards of G-d revealed in His Word and to the prophetic will of G-d for the end times. They espouse doctrines which are not found in the Scripture and ignore the admonitions which are. There is clearly a lacking of the fear of the L-rd among many of those who profess to represent Yeshua.

It was a harsh indictment against the Children of Israel that G-d had to perform a miraculous act in order for the people to acknowledge Moses’ leadership, rather than simply hearing Datan and Aviram calling Egypt the land flowing with milk and honey and not immediately knowing that Korach and his rebels were in the wrong. Are believers any more clear on what G-d’s will is today and what He will bring about in the last days than Korach and his followers were 3,500 years ago? The Scripture says in the last days G-d will allow strong delusion in the world so that those who do not rely on the Word of G-d will believe Satan’s lie (See II Thessalonians 2:11).

It is not a coincidence that Paul states that we should give thanks to G-d Who chose us for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth! (See II Thessalonians 2:13)

Shabbat Shalom