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Home , Chukat, Korach (parashah)

E,YJ2}SL�� PORTIONS THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION NUMBERS 16:1-18:32 תשרפ חרוק / Parashat

In this week’s guide…

Rabbi Jason’s COMMENTARY invites us to consider the motivation behind the terrible rebellion led by —why would he do such a thing? And why would two hundred and fifty leaders follow him? Before we quickly condemn Korah and his cohorts, we might want to consider if there’s any way we struggle with similar root issues. At the heart of all of this is the theme of “honor.” Why do we need it? Why should we show it? What happens when we start getting intentional about showing honor? ...... 1 This week’s NEW TESTAMENT TIE-IN examines a “priestly perk”… the grain and and oil that and his family were privy to by virtue of the priesthood. What could this mean for followers of Yeshua today? The insights we find here have the potential to breathe new life into our spiritual life and practices...... 2 In BY THE NUMBERS we revisit a theme that is not foreign to friends of Jason and the ministry of Fusion Global: “80” and the Hebrew letter peh. This deeper dive expands on the idea of “the mouth” and “breakthrough,” and works powerfully with the content in our New Testament Tie-in. If you’re enjoying Jason’s latest book, Breakthrough: Living A Life That Overflows, you will be blessed by this article! ...... 3

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OVERVIEW

This portion is named after a prominent leader amongst the , Korah. The readings tell of his failed attempt to overthrow the distinct leadership of and Aaron, insisting that “All the community is holy—all of them—and Adonai is with them!” (Numbers 16:3). God supernaturally and devastatingly quashes the uprising and the passages which follow confirm Aaron’s priesthood. Authority has always been a source of conflict amongst people, even the people of God. As we read this portion we are reminded that the Holy Spirit sees the purity, humility, and trust in our hearts. FUSION GLOBAL WITH RABBI JASON תשרפ חרוק / – Parashat Korach Numbers 16:1-18:32 COMMENTARY by Rabbi Jason Sobel

ow Korah…rose up against Moses and took 250 men from Bnei-Yisrael [Children of Is rael], men of renown who had been appointed to the council. They assembled against Moses and Aaron. They said to N them, “You’ve gone too far! All the community is holy—all of them—and Adonai is with them! Then why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Adonai?” When Moses heard this, he fell on his face. Then he said to Korah and all his following saying, “In the morning Adonai will reveal who is His and who is holy. The one whom He will let come near to Him will be the one He chooses to come near to Him. Do this, Korah and your whole following!” (Num 16:16)

In this week’s Torah portion, we read about a disagreement that had disastrous consequences. At the root of Korah and his cohorts’ dispute was a hunger for honor. The desire for honor is the root cause of many conflicts and disagreements. Many people cannot give honor to others because they don’t love and respect themselves.

The number one issue that I see in people’s lives, and even my own, is identity and self-esteem. We all struggle at times with liking ourselves and seeing the good within us. This battle can blur our vision and make it difficult to see our true worth to the Lord. This sort of failure can lead us to pursue significance and honor in unhealthy ways to boost our self-esteem.

All of us have a bit of Korah in us. Our “inner Korah” seeks honor by pursuing positions of power, personal wealth, and success. We long for the praise of others, both in the world and even in the Body of Messiah. All these are external forms of honor that will never truly satisfy; on the contrary, they will significantly harm us and our relationship with others. The warn, “jealousy, desire, and honor remove a person from this world” (Avos 4:8). Cain killed Able out of jealousy. The generation of the Flood sinned because of an ungodly desire for material things. The sin of Babel was seeking their honor above God’s (“Let’s make a for ourselves” (Gen 11:4). Every person struggles with these some desires at different moments in their lives. None of these can satisfy us but will ultimately leave us feeling even more empty. And when the desire for honor, power, and position control us, we became a slave to them.

Instead of seeking honor, we need to honor all people. Why? Because God made every individual in His image and likeness. We need to lift up people by seeing the best in them. We need to recognize the treasure God has placed in them. When honoring other people becomes a higher priority than receiving it ourselves, we will not only bring great blessing but also be blessed. As the Rabbi states, “Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human 1 beings as it is said: ‘For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored’” (1 Sam 2:30). Do not seek honor, but give it zealously. Don’t be a Korah—be a Moses. Like Moses and Yeshua, if you run from honor and glory, the Lord will cause it to pursue you in ways that are more excellent than you could ever imagine.

NEW TESTAMENT TIE-IN There is a foundational doctrine found in Scripture, often referred to as the “priesthood of all believers,” that we need to understand. “Indeed, the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.” (Ex 19: 1 / NRSV, italics added)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people…” (1 Pet 2:9 / NRSV, italics added) Now consider the Lord’s instructions to Aaron (the High Priest) in the week’s Torah portion: “This also is yours: the gift of the wave offerings of Bnei- Yisrael. I have given all the wave offerings as a permanent share to you, your sons and your daughters. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it. All the finest , the finest new wine and grain they give to Adonai from their firstfruits, I have given them to you” (Num 18:11-12). Along with the various offerings and sacrifices that the Israelites would bring to the , they would also bring grain, wine, and oil. Aaron and his family would receive this personally and eat it. There was a direct connection between the priesthood and this practice. It was not for everyone in , as these were prescribed offerings, expressions of worship.

As New Covenant followers of Yeshua, living several millennia beyond Aaron’s days, we can still find rich meaning in this passage of Scripture because of the “priesthood of all believers.” What could grain and wine and oil point us to for us? What if the grain and wine are symbols of the bread and the cup of the Lord’s Table? And what if the oil is a type and shadow of the Holy Spirit? Sharing in Communion and being the dwelling place of the Spirit are precious treasures to be celebrated and cherished, not taken for granted. Every time we partake of that holy meal or feel a supernatural “sense” of the Spirit, we should remind ourselves that we are priests of the Most High God. Imagine how doing this could transform receiving Communion from a dull routine to a cause for holy celebration! Imagine how the gifts and the life of the Spirit within us could take on a new and more profound meaning: they are evidence of our priestly appointment in God’s Kingdom.

Finally, in some settings, it’s not uncommon for celebrations of the Lord’s Supper to evoke feelings of fear and inadequacy. The Apostle Paul’s warnings not to approach the Table in an “unworthy manner” lest we “eat and drink judgment” against ourselves might contribute to such feelings (1 Corinthians 11:27-31). Even Numbers 18 insists that those who eat must be “clean.” But we have good news today: “you were washed, you were made holy, you were set right in the name of the Lord Yeshua the Messiah and by the Ruach of our God” (1 Cor 6:11). We approach the Table and manifest the life of the Spirit in humble confidence as royal priests. We belong in God’s Presence and stand there clean. As the Scripture says, “So let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and body washed with pure ” (Heb 10:22).

2 BY THE NUMBERS

n this week's Torah portion, Korah the led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron along with the help of some other “men of renown.” At the heart of Korah’s rebellion is a desire to not just minister in the I Tabernacle but to usurp priesthood from Aaron the High Priest and his descendants. The Hebrew word for “priesthood” is kehuna. Kehuna (priesthood) and hakohen (the priest) both have a numeric value of 80.

In Hebrew, we write the number 80 with the letter Peh, which means “mouth.” Eighty is both the number of the priesthood and the mouth. This connection makes sense because at the heart of priestly service is the use of the mouth/peh to praise, pray, and intercede on behalf of the people. Our mouths can either be used for good to bring blessing in fulfillment of our priestly calling or for evil, stirring up dissension like Korah. Those who use their mouths for harmful purposes such as gossip, slander, and manipulation “will be [spiritually] unclean”/tamei yih- yeh, which adds up to 80.

There is authentic power in the peh, the mouth. We are currently in the Decade of the Peh, 5780, on the Hebrew calendar. Eighty is also the number of “breakthrough.” Paratz, the Hebrew word for “breakthrough,” begins with the letter peh. This detail teaches us that the peh (the mouth) is foundational for breakthrough. Life and death are in the power tongue, or one could say, “the mouth.” Spiritual, emotional, and material breakthrough begins with prayer, praise, and the declaration of God's promises.

We can see this fact in two ways. First, the Hebrew word for “heal” is rapha, whose middle letter is a peh. This arrangement is no accident. It points to the truth that spoken prayer and blessing are central to releasing God's healing power. Secondly, the phrase “with salt”/be-malach also equals 80. The Israelites were required to offer every sacrifice with salt. The ultimate purpose of the sacrifices was to draw one near to God. In the same way, words that are “seasoned with salt” bring us closer to the Lord and others.

Never underestimate the power of the peh/mouth! We must make sure we do not allow our mouth to be like that of Korah, but rather our speech must be positive, uplifting, and kind. As Paul exhorts us, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought to answer everyone” (Col 4:6).

Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the Tree of Life Version. 3 THOUGHTS for REFLECTION Take some time this week to prayerfully consider and discuss with friends: § Rabbi Jason raised an intimate and universal issue: our sense of worth and self- esteem. Prayerfully consider if there are ways you may be acting out of personal insecurity—anger, criticism, fear, ______. Make an effort to read Psalm 139 at least three times this week, inviting the Spirit to search you and heal you as you do.

§ Hear the words of the Apostle Peter: “You are a…royal kehuna”! You are an anointed priest, appointed to walk in Kingdom purpose. One of the ways you can do this is by using your mouth/peh intentionally. Is there someone in your life that is hurting, lonely, or confused? Call them this week and speak life to them. Don’t be “salty”—be “seasoned.” Let the Spirit accomplish His purposes through your peh.

4 תשרפ קלב־תקח / NEXT WEEK’S READINGS: Parashat -

TORAH Saturday / Numbers 19:1-20:6 Sunday / Numbers 20:7-21 Monday / Numbers 20:22-21:20 Tuesday / Numbers 21:21-22:12 Wednesday / Numbers 22:13-38 Thursday / Numbers 22:39-23:26 Friday / Numbers 23:27-25:9

Prophetic Reading (): Micah 5:6-6:8

New Covenant Reading: John 19:38-42; Matthew 21:1-11

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