Korach stages a rebellion against Moses, accusing him of a power grab. He and his entourage are swallowed up by the earth. The people protest, and a plague ensues. Of the staffs submitted by all the tribes, only Aaron’s blossoms; proving that he is God’s chosen. The Israelites are instructed the various presents due to the priests and Levites.
Let’s read a little from the parsha. This comes right after God’s judgment on those who rebelled with Korah.
Num 16:36 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 16:37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy.
Num 16:38 As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the LORD, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.”
Num 16:39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar,
Num 16:40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his company–as the LORD said to him through Moses.
As recounted in this week’s Torah portion, Korach led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Two hundred and fifty of Korach’s followers brazenly performed the rite of incense offering—a rite reserved only for the high priest. They were punished, but the brass pans they used in their misguided offering were salvaged. God instructed that they be utilized as a covering for the altar. Why would a sinner’s pan be incorporated into the altar of atonement?
The simple reason given is that this would serve as a reminder to the nation never to engage in rebellion again. But, as always, there must be a deeper dimension, a positive aspect, to this remarkable twist in the tale.
The sages point out that every metal used in the building of the Tabernacle represented a human character trait. Gold is indicative of awe, silver of love, and brass of conviction and strength of character. Korach and his men were indeed made of brass, prepared as they were to sacrifice their lives because of their conviction.
They backed the wrong horse, but they sure knew how to run. Their conviction was admirable though their choice was tragic. So God instructed that the brass pans be incorporated into the altar itself. While God did not approve of the nature of their sacrifice, but appreciated the sacrifice itself.
The message to the nation was simple. Do not repeat Korach’s mistake, but do take a lesson from the manner in which he pursued it. Find that strength within yourself, but harness it to the service of God.
Let’s pause a second. Each year, as I study through the Parashot, a different ‘theme’ emerges consistently. Last year, the theme being in awe of our creator came up time and again. The ways that, in general, the church has lost some of that sense of awe and how we can learn that from the study of Torah. This year’s theme appears to be staying true to our convictions in the face of great struggle or temptation. Earlier, we learned from Pharaoh the lesson of conviction. In this parsha we learn the same lesson from Korah.
Korach was given a gift, but he abused it. We need to utilize that very gift in a positive sense. Strength of character is handy when, for example, skeptics and detractors beset us and question our values.
When doubts cross our mind, when questions plague us, conviction sustains us till such time as we discover the answers.
In short, when the ego, heart or mind loses enthusiasm, an unshakable faith will carry the day.
This Torah portion comes on the heels of the story we read last week, in which the nation was handed a forty-year sentence to wander the desert. It would take patience and long-term commitment to overcome this long and trying period. The strength of character that they would need was born out of the ashes of Korach’s tragedy.
In the gospel of Matthew, our master speaks of such a time when we will all need the steadfast convictions of Korah.
Mat 24:8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
Mat 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
Mat 24:10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
Mat 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Our prayer for each other should be that we each stand for the Lord with the leading and strength of the Holy Spirit and may we each have the strength of our convictions to endure to the end.
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