Reflection for Korach
“Contend Earnestly for the Faith”
2 Timothy 2:8-21; Jude 1-25
excerpted from TorahScope Apostolic Scriptures Reflections
By the time Torah readers reach Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32) in their annual examinations, the murmuring and complaints of Ancient Israel come to a crescendo. The previous two portions of Beha’alot’kha (Numbers 8:1-12:16) and Shelakh-Lekha (Numbers 13:1-15:41), have described the ongoing complaints of the people, as their wilderness march became arduous. There was no meat and the delicacies of Egypt were missed,[1] and even Miriam and Aaron complained about Moses’ positional leadership.[2] While each of these problems was appropriately dealt with—the scene caused by the unbelieving spies[3] culminated in the Lord declaring that none of the faithless “Exodus generation,” except Caleb, would enter into the Promised Land:
“The LORD said, ‘I have pardoned according to your word; but in very deed—as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the LORD’s glory—because all those men who have seen my glory and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice; surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who despised me see it. But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him I will bring into the land into which he went. His offspring shall possess it’” (Numbers 14:20-24, WMB).[4]
Given the fact that those who experienced God’s deliverance from Egypt, would not be allowed to enter into Canaan, the rebellion witnessed this week in Korach is understandable to some degree. There is discussion among Jewish interpreters, which tries to dissect Numbers 16 into a variety of sources, perhaps equating as many as four different rebellious incidents.[5] Yet, the fact remains that the forty-year prolonged death sentence, issued upon the faithless Israelites by the Lord, could naturally spawn malcontent in the hearts of those who would be prohibited from their inheritance. Note the following judgment declared by the compassionate Almighty—who earlier wanted to eradicate this generation—but instead relented after Moses’ impassioned plea for mercy.[6] Those without the faith would be able to live long enough to see their children grow up and mature, who would take their place in entering into the Land:
“The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ‘How long shall I bear with this evil congregation that complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel, which they complain against me. Tell them, “As I live, says the LORD, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you. Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all who were counted of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me, surely you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But I will bring in your little ones that you said should be captured or killed, and they shall know the land which you have rejected. But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. Your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your prostitution, until your dead bodies are consumed in the wilderness. After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your iniquities, even forty years, and you will know my alienation.” I, the LORD, have spoken. I will surely do this to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die’” (Numbers 14:26-35, WMB).
After an unsuccessful attempt to defeat the Amalekites without the blessing of the Lord,[7] our parashah turns to addressing how the people would offer sacrifices once they entered into the Promised Land.[8] The statutes regulating both cereal offerings and offerings for unintentional sin, would be the same for native Israelites and sojourners alike.[9] Significant deviations from God’s Instruction, could result in a steady rise of sinful behavior and disloyalty to Him, and so the incident of an individual caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath is recorded, along with him being stoned to death.[10] To remind the Israelites to obey His commandments, the Lord instructed the people to wear tassels or tzitzityot on the corners of their garments.[11]
It takes three chapters in total (Numbers 16-18) to record the rebellion of Korah and his associates, the distinct punishments which are meted out to them, and the immediate aftermath in the camp of Israel. Without going into great detail on these events, it is obvious to me that the Jewish Sages saw distinct parallels between the humble, unassuming leadership styles of Moses and the Prophet Samuel, when selecting the complementary Haftarah reading for Korach (1 Samuel 11:14-12:22). Even with Israel in the Promised Land, too many of the people were insecure and wanting, and so they prodded Samuel into anointing a human king other than the Holy One—so that Israel would be no different than its pagan neighbors (1 Samuel 8:5).
In our recommended readings from the Apostolic Scriptures this week, it is still obvious that even in the First Century C.E., that the mortal proclivity to follow after the inclinations of the flesh, continues in every generation. In the time of Moses, only very few like Caleb and Joshua had a “different spirit” to faithfully follow the Lord (Numbers 14:24). During Samuel’s generation when he was called into service as a prophet, a great majority of Israel was more interested in following the ways of the world. One would think that following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to the Believers at Shavuot/Pentecost and the years which followed—that the earliest Messiah followers would learn lessons from the past, and desire close conformity with the will of God. But both 2 Timothy 2:8-21 and Jude 1-25 sadly reveal that basic human nature had not changed that much. Paul admonished his ministry colleague Timothy to be mindful of those who would come into the assembly and create problems, and Jude issued a brutal indictment of people who were following after the ways of Cain, Balaam, and Korah.
For those of us living today—in yet just another wicked generation in a long, successive line of wicked and perverted generations since the beginning[12]—it is instructional to often be reminded of warnings to not let one’s spiritual guard down. There are people who will enter into the community of Believers, and cause irreparable harm to the naive and innocent. In his final letter written, the Apostle Paul made the distinct point of naming the names of some false teachers who had severely disrupted the Ephesian assembly with serious errors:
“Remember Yeshua the Messiah, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News, in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Messiah Yeshua with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: ‘For if we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.’ Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord that they don’t argue about words to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear. Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness, and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus: men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.’ Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor and some for dishonor. If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:8-21, WMB).
When reflecting on this as a director of a Messianic educational ministry, it has honestly been difficult for us to not remain mute about various false teachings which have filtered into the ranks of the broad Messianic community over the years. In our ministry experience, we have certainly encountered modern-day characters like Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have infected people with worldly and empty chatter. Because the Messianic movement is so small, and many ministry leaders and teachers have met one another in person at one point or another, we have strived to follow a basic policy of preferring to address teachings, and not teachers. This way we can at least try to be objective, and not get bogged down in various personality conflicts, as we focus our attention on addressing a particular topic or issue from the Scriptures.
While we do possess limited knowledge of the future—for what appears to be His Divine purposes—the Lord will and does test His people. He allows different aberrant and deviant teachings to be disseminated, to see how serious individuals are about pressing into Him and His will, or feeding their flesh with self-assumed knowledge which will not aid them in spiritual service. As Paul put it, “The Lord knows those who belong to him” (2 Timothy 2:19, Phillips New Testament). In His sovereign plan, it is entirely up to Him to work out the details of the testing He allows, and whether various people pass or fail such tests. He let the Ancient Israelites have a human king, after all—but they did have to experience various repercussions for not allowing Him alone to be leader.
When looking through Jude 1-25 (the entire Epistle of Jude actually) I am reminded of a time long ago when I was responsible for administrating a conference of various teachers. During the closing activities, I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to read the entire Epistle of Jude. As I think back on that past opportunity for the words of Jude to penetrate the hearts of the listeners, I believe these words should be reconsidered by us more frequently than not:
“Judah, a servant of Yeshua the Messiah, and brother of Jacob, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Yeshua the Messiah: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the holy ones. For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Yeshua the Messiah. Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. Angels who didn’t keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having in the same way as these given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are shown as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire. Yet in the same way, these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, ‘May the Lord rebuke you!’ But these speak evil of whatever things they don’t know. They are destroyed in these things that they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason. Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts—and their mouth speaks proud things—showing respect of persons to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the emissaries of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.’ These are those who cause divisions and are sensual, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love, looking for the mercy of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah to eternal life. On some have compassion, making a distinction, and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1-25, WMB).
Obviously, Jude was not mincing words. He warned his generation about exactly what he was witnessing among many of the Believers. In a like manner, I tried to do so as well—but rather than use my words, I found Jude’s to be more than sufficient.
The tough part, about being placed into a position of full-time ministry, is that you must truly understand the severity of what it means “to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people” (Jude 3, NLT). You have to be sure that it is the Spirit of God which is genuinely moving and motivating you. Jude points out how in the Last Days there will be those who follow after their own ungodly lusts, causing divisions because they are worldly minded and devoid of the Spirit (Jude 18-19). Yet those who have been called to simply serve are to focus their attention on “building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20, WMB), and being attentive to achieving the Lord’s objectives for the world. It is our responsibility to be about the job of saving others from eternal punishment, seeing them repent of sins and come to eternal life.
It is to this end that we must all continue to declare the good news of salvation to not only the lost—but to those already present within the assembly of holy ones or saints—so that they grow in salvation and in their walk of faith. This begins by being able to attempt to comprehend the great love which God manifested toward us in His Son. In the words of the Apostle Paul,
“For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know Messiah’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19, WMB).
Brothers and sisters: Earnestly contend for the faith!
NOTES
[1] Numbers 11:1-9.
[2] Numbers 12:1-16.
[3] Numbers 13:25-14:10.
[4] Numbers 14:30, 38 later specifies how Joshua would also be allowed to enter into the Land.
[5] Cf. Milgrom, pp 414-415.
[6] Numbers 14:11-19.
[7] Numbers 14:39-45.
[8] Numbers 15:1-13.
[9] Numbers 15:14-31.
[10] Numbers 15:32-36.
[11] Numbers 15:37-41.
[12] For some further thoughts, consult the author’s article “Every Evil Generation Needs Light,” appearing in the June 2010 issue of Outreach Israel News.
