In this week’s reading from Parashat Korach in Bamidbar / Numbers 16:1-17:15, Korach, Datan, and Aviram rose up and assembled themselves against Moshe and against Aharon and questioned whether their role as priests was really the will of God (ב וַיָּקֻמוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה וַאֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵי-יִשְֹרָאֵל חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתָיִם נְשִֹיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד אַנְשֵׁי-שֵׁם). Two hundred and fifty men went to offer incense by fire before the Lord. As a result, the entire assemble of men died by fire that proceeded from the Lord God because of their sin. The entire camp of Korach, Datan, and Aviram were also swallowed up in the earth going down to the grave alive. After these things, the congregation (sons of Yisrael) complained against Moshe and Aharon and a plague broke out in their midst. Moshe told Aharon to take a censor filled with burning incense and stand in the gap between the dead and the living. As we study the reading for this week, the children of Yisrael persisted in a rebellious Spirit against Moshe, Aharon, and God. What can we learn about having a rebellious spirit before God that applies to our lives today? The people did not appear to understand that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23). The peoples response over the death of Korach, Datan, and Aviram is recorded in Bamidbar / Numbers 17:6 in the Hebrew translation and 16:41 in the English translation ו וַיִּלֹּנוּ כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְֹרָאֵל מִמָּחֳרָת עַל-מֹשֶׁה וְעַל-אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹר אַתֶּם הֲמִתֶּם אֶת-עַם יְהוָֹה: 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘You are the ones who have caused the death of the Lord’s people.’ (NASB) The second sin of rebellion causes the Lord to say הֵרֹמּוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָגַע וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל-פְּנֵיהֶם “part from the midst of the congregation so that I can consume them.” Rebellion and having a rebellious spirit before the Lord is certain death. Does your spirit today exhibit aspects of rebellion like Yisrael? This week we will see that it is very important we root out any and all forms of rebellion in our lives. All forms of rebellion causes sin before the Lord especially those of the thoughts of our hearts. Read more here.
