Parsha Korach - Bemidbar/Numbers 16:1 - 18:32
And He said, “I shall cause all My goodness to pass before you, and I shall proclaim the Name of יהוה before you. And I shall favour him whom I favour, and shall have compassion on him whom I have compassion.”
(Shemoth/Exodus 33:19)
We read this some time ago in Parsha Ki Tisa when Moshe interceded on behalf of the nation of Yisrael after they sinned with the golden calf. Now, in this week’s Parsha, we see another example of YAHUAH showing favor to whom He would favor.
In Parsha Korach, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 followers challenged Moshe, Aharon, and the priesthood. All of them were killed - either by fire or the earth swallowing them up - and YAHUAH proved His choice of Moshe and Aharon.
Then, YAH gave an inheritance of tithes, gifts, and contributions to the priests and Levites as a Covenant of Salt. YAHUAH made a choice, and His choice stands forever.
About Leadership
There are some people today who believe that we shouldn’t have someone “over us.” They say this is what the churches do, and therefore, it’s wrong.
Aside from the fact that this teaching is based in the New Testament (which we no longer follow), this teaching is also solidly against everything in Tanakh!
In fact, it sounds just like Korach’s argument:
And they assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, and said to them, “Enough of you! For all the congregation is set-apart, all of them, and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you lift up yourselves above the assembly of יהוה?” (Bem/Num. 16:3)
Korach argued that all Yisrael was set-apart, so why did Moshe and Aharon place themselves over everybody else? He argued that everyone was the same, and therefore, there was no need for leadership.
The truth is: everybody is not the same. If we were, what a boring and unproductive world it would be!
Everyone is different because everyone has a different role to play in the earth. If we were all the same, we would all have the same job - meaning all the other jobs would be unfilled and the plan of YAHUAH would not be accomplished.
YAHUAH always has leadership among His people. A leader’s job is to keep everyone - all the different people at all the different levels - working together and focused on the common goal - to do YAH’s will and accomplish His plan.
All throughout Tanakh, YAHUAH had people chosen to do just that. From the forefathers to Moshe and Yehoshua to the judges to the kings and the prophets. Without leadership, the people fell into disarray - everyone doing what was right in his own eyes (Shoph/Judges 17:6; 21:25).
Priests & Levites Today
So, what does this mean for today?
YAHUAH still has His chosen ones on earth to lead His people. The key is to find them and align ourselves with them.
This parsha focused mostly on the Levites and priests. Today, it's near impossible to know who is really a Levite or a priest by descent. So, what we must look at is who is doing the work of the Levite and filling the office of priest.
The Levites today are those who dedicate themselves to study and teach the Torah.
Nowadays, with the internet, many like to think they are teaching themselves. Yet, even with google at our fingertips, we’re still learning from someone. Someone wrote those webpages we read, recorded that audio we listen to, or made those videos we watch.
These teachers of Torah are doing the work of the Levites. Therefore, whoever we choose to follow and learn from ought to receive our tithes.
Aaron and his descendants were chosen from among the Levites to be the priests (kohanim). They attended to the set-apart matters of YAH’s House, serving at the altar and making the offerings of YAHUAH.
Aharon was the high priest who entered the Most Set-Apart place to make atonement for the people. When the plague struck, he stood between the living and the dead to stop the plague of death and preserve the living.
The priest today still serves in His House, a place set-apart for His Name, making offerings of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. The priest’s only objective is to serve YAHUAH and do His will.
In doing His will, the priest works diligently for the salvation of the people. The priest rescues YAH’s people from death, spiritually and physically. The priest labors to have the sins of the people forgiven so they live and not die.
Find someone dedicated to doing YAH’s will in the earth; someone who is committed to saving lives; someone who intercedes for the people and speaks blessings over their lives; someone who has received the favor of YAHUAH and whose prayers are answered.
This is the priest of today. This is where the first and best of our material wealth should go.
Supporting YAH's Work
Now, I know that there are some people today who also believe that we shouldn’t tithe anymore. YAHUAH gave the contributions, gifts, and tithes to the priests and Levites as a Covenant of Salt, an everlasting covenant.
These gifts do not belong to us. They belong to YAHUAH, and He gives them to His servants as their inheritance.
This is how YAH’s work gets done. If everyone spends the bulk of their time earning a living but do not give tithes, then how will the work of YAHUAH continue? His servants have no support to do the work, and everyone else is busy!
Tithing is an arrangement that YAH set up to keep His work going.
Support those who teach you YAH’s word. Support those who devote their lives to doing YAH’s will, those who fight and work diligently for the salvation of all people.
And beware of the sin of Korach...