Tag: Numbers 16

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Rebellion, envy, pursuit of power: Lessons from the life of Korah (Numbers 16–18)

Pursuit of power, rebellion, envy: Lessons from the life of Korah (Numbers 16-18). Adobe Firefly AI image of a man holding up two clenched fists and screaming in anger.

The consequences of rebellion against God’s authority, the dangers of envy and covetousness, and the importance of wise stewardship of blessings are key lessons from this study of the Torah reading קֹרַח Korach (“Korah,” Numbers 16–18). We will see how the motivations and actions of Korach and his co-conspirators echo in the shocking tragic end for Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. We explore timeless spiritual principles for leadership, true rest for our restlessness, and the enduring role of the Tabernacle as the earthly dwelling place for God.

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Torah readings

Torah reading Korach (קרח): Numbers 16–18

Studies in Torah

Jealousy vs. contentment. Covetousness vs. peace. Humility vs. pride. This continual battle against short-sighted self-will and trust in the LORD’s over-the-horizon view underlies the rebellion against Aharon (Aaron), God’s anointed, led by Korakh (Korah) in this week’s reading — קֹרַח Korakh, Numbers 16-18.

This foreshadows the rebellion against the ultimate of God’s Anointed, Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ).

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Discussions Torah

When these men tried to tell God who was in charge, it didn’t go well (Numbers 16–18)

When these men tried to tell God who was in charge, it didn't go well (Numbers 16-18). Bearded man in a blue dress shirt wears a crown and looks up to the right quizzically.

The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh/Korach (“Korah,” Numbers 16–18) presents us a difficult lesson in the dangers of democracy. As Americans, we pride ourselves on living in a country where all citizens who are age 18-plus are granted a vote in how our school boards, cities, counties, states and the nation itself are governed. 

Korach and those following him wanted to rule God’s house itself in a similar manner. Ambassadors and disciples of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) should carefully and humbly take to heart how God’s judgment utterly humiliated and destroyed Korach and his rebels.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

6 lessons from when fire comes from God

The closer we desire to be to God, the more He expects of us — more repentance, more humility, more love and compassion for those He created. We know who God and what He expects of us because of His words, the instructions He has given us to follow.

This is a key lesson from the deaths of two key priests in the Tabernacle from the Torah reading שמיני Shemini (“eighth,” Leviticus 9–11). God has given us counsel and instructions on how we are to conduct ourselves in the world, in our families, in our communities. He also tells us how we are to interact with Him.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

How to pray for the enemies of Heaven (Leviticus 16–18)

How to pray for Heaven's enemies (Leviticus 16-18)

Korach and his merry band of insurrectionists used populist propaganda, revisionist history, blame shifting and faux humility to instigate a popular uprising against Moses and Aaron to return to Egypt to die there so they could avoid suffering God’s judgement that they would die in the wilderness over the course of 40 years.

The people followed along because they would rather blame Moses and Aaron for their lack of faith and their eventual death sentence than themselves for their failure to take what was promised to them.

Fast-forward about 1,500 years: Israel’s leaders who confronted Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) about His ministry repeated some of the same arguments and found themselves on the wrong side of history, just as Korach, Dathan and Abiram did.

But the real lesson of the Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh (Numbers 16–18) is how Moses, Aaron and Yeshua responded to the attacks on their authority. They didn’t ask God to take out their enemies, but interceded in prayer for them. God asks us to do the same.

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Discussions Torah

‘Who put you in charge?’: Korach, ancient revolutionary for equity and accountability (Numbers 16–18)

‘Who put you in charge?’: Korah, ancient revolutionary for equity and accountability (Numbers 16–18)

The account of Korach/Korakh/Qorakh (Korah) and his rebellion within ancient Israel between the departure from slavery in Egypt and the entrance into the Promised Land is a classic study in political science. His message hinges on two talking points that politicians of all stripes use today to sway the masses:
* Pursue equity, not just equality.
* Cultural decline is caused by some other group.

We see in the Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh (Numbers 16–18) and in the account of the trial of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) lessons on how to discern the motivations of popular movements and those who aspire to leadership. Find out more through this Bible study.

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Discussions Torah

Numbers 16–17: How humility teaches leadership

How Humilty teaches Leadership in Parashat Korach.

The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh (“Korah,” Numbers 16–18) can be quite chilling, especially for those of us who have serious challenges with authority. We also see a display of the adage “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” coming to fruition right before our eyes. I used to scoff at the idea of knowing who you are by the friends you keep, but it is so true. Your friends inevitably rub off on you, just as Korach’s rebellious and insolent spirit rubbed off on Dathan and Abiram and then trickled down to the entire congregation.

We’ll explore how Moses’ and Aaron’s humble intercession for these rebels teaches us about Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).