Korach B’midbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32
Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32
Haftorah Reading: I Samuel 11:14-12:22
Today we are looking at a very important Torah portion. I realize I say that quite often but in this portion I believe we are looking at verses that speak directly to our times today.
Let me begin by looking at another verse that has Hebrew – English translation issues. In Numbers 16:1 we read in English, “Korah took men.” However in Hebrew the word men does not appear. It reads, “Korach took.” This leaves us with an interesting question, what did Korach take?
Chukat (Statute) B’midbar (Numbers) 19:1-22:1; Balak (Numbers) 22:2-25:9
Torah Portion: Chukat (Statute) B’midbar (Numbers) 19:1-22:1; Balak (Numbers) 22:2-25:9
Haftorah Readings: Judges 11:1-33, Micah 5:6-6:8
Last week we read and studied the Torah portion Korach. Tonight, we look at Chukat and Balak. What is easily overlooked is the time passing between Korach and Chukat. Korach occurred about two years after the crossing of the Reed Sea. Now, here in Chukat, we see the people standing at the doorway to the Promised Land. So our Torah portion takes place 38 years after we last read of the incident of Korach. These people are the children, who are now adults, of the people we last read about. However, as we read this portion we see they had not changed much. Here in our portion we read of the death of Aaron and again of the lack of water. We see a people who rebelled and rose up against Moshe and were punished by the venomous snakes that G-d brought among them. We also see G-d’s provision for them when He instructed Moshe to make a bronze snake. He held the bronze snake up before the people and whomever was bitten could look upon it and be saved. We also see the snake mentioned in John 3:14-15, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life.” Just as the serpent in the desert brought physical salvation from death, whomever looks upon the Messiah and believes in Him receives eternal salvation.
Korach B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32
Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32
Haftorah Readings: I Samuel 11:14-12:22
Today we look at a Torah portion that covers an incident that takes place following the report of the 12 men sent to check out the Land. As a result of their negative report G-d sent Israel back into the desert and everyone over 20 years old were told they would not enter the Land. Only their children would receive the promise of G-d.
Korach B’midbar(Numbers) 16:1-18:32
Torah Portion: Korach B’midbar(Numbers) 16:1-18:32
Haftorah Reading I Samuel 11:14-12:22
This week we read a Torah portion that begs the question, why? Why, after the catastrophe of the sending of the spies, would something like Korach’s rebellion happen? Maybe a clue can be found in the two opening words, in Hebrew, of our portion. In Hebrew this passage begins with the words, “Korach took.” Korach found people who were vulnerable to his arguments. They were men from the tribe of Rueben, Dothan and Aviram were among them. If you remember, the tribe of Reuben was displaced from the normal privileges of the first born because of his sin against his father Jacob. That place of the first born was given to Judah.
Korach B’Midbar(Numbers) 16-18
Torah Portion: Korach B’Midbar(Numbers) 16-18
Haftorah Reading: I Samuel 11:14-12:22
Today we read the Torah portion Korach. It contains the story of the most serious rebellion in scripture against Moshe. What do you think was the motivation of Korach to challenge Moshe? Why do you think he almost succeeded?
Over the next few minutes I pray we can find G-d’s answers to these and other questions you might have from this Torah portion. I also pray we can discover G-d’s application of this story to our own spiritual life. First, let’s look at what might have moved Korach to take such action. I believe he was mainly motivated by jealousy. He sounded like he was confronting Moshe because, as he said, Moshe had taken too much for himself. He said, “All the congregation is holy.” Korach thought he should have been chosen for High Priest rather than Aaron, the brother of Moshe. He says any one of the congregation, who are all holy, could have filled the role. However, I believe his reasons had little to do with anyone but himself.
Torah Portion: Korach B’Midbar(Numbers) 16-18
Torah Portion: Korach B’Midbar(Numbers) 16-18
Haftorah Reading: I Samuel 11:14-12:22
Today we read the Torah portion Korach. It contains the story of the most serious rebellion in scripture against Moshe. What do you think was the motivation of Korach to challenge Moshe? Why do you think he almost succeeded?
Over the next few minutes I pray we can find G-d’s answers to these and other questions you might have from this Torah portion. I also pray we can discover G-d’s application of this story to our own spiritual life. First, let’s look at what might have moved Korach to take such action. I believe he was mainly motivated by jealousy. He sounded like he was confronting Moshe because, as he said, Moshe had taken too much for himself. He said, “All the congregation is holy.” Korach thought he should have been chosen for High Priest rather than Aaron, the brother of Moshe. He says any one of the congregation, who are all holy, could have filled the role. However, I believe his reasons had little to do with anyone but himself.