Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #38: Korach (Korah) B’midbar (Numbers) 16:1-18:32
Haftarah: Sh’mu’el Alef ( 1 Samuel) 11:14-12:22
B’rit Chadashah: 2 Timothy 2:8-21; Jude 1-25
Today we are going to refer in part to the Zohar , which is essentially a kabbalistic perspective and interpretation of the Torah. One of the main reasons I mention this is because when you read the various commentaries on the parashot from the kabbalistic perspective, it is evident that the sages use some degree of critical thinking which I will explore as it relates to this parashah. I will also provide scriptural references that support and admonish us to develop the skill of critical thinking which includes discernment.
By the end of this commentary, we should all have learned a valuable lesson in critical thinking; a critical mental skill in humans that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is assigned to remove through various algorithms programmed into these platforms for just that purpose.
Before I go to the Zohar, let us look at Chapter 16:3-11 for a perfect example related to critical thinking in the time of Moshe and his ability to “see” beyond the spoken word. In the case of AI, it would be the spoken or written word.
The scene is where Korach sequestered 250 of Israel’s outstanding men to side with him in rebellion against Moshe’s authority. This is a typical first “red flag” when we are confronted with similar situations, whether in the context of family, or any other relationship. Korach attempted to “sugar-coat’ his statement to make it appear as though he had Moshe’s best interest at heart, an honorable motive. This is a second “red flag.” Korach stated, “You take too much on yourselves!” Then he starts the attack “After all, the entire community is holy, every one of them, and Adonai is among them. So why do you lift yourselves up above Adonai’s assembly?” Now we are getting a clearer picture of Korach’s motive. By sequestering leaders of the nation to stand behind him, he fills their minds with his toxic attitude and becomes bolder in his accusations, all of which I submit he would not verbalize if he were standing alone.
Fortunately, G-d imbued Moshe with a sense of discernment demonstrated with Moshe’s response with and interesting statement with double meaning in verse 7; “It is you sons of Levi who are taking too much on yourselves!” Moshe responded to the confrontation correctly as he deferred the final authority on the matter to Adonai in verse 7.
Next Moshe brought to Korach and his supporters’ attention the following truth of the matter; “Listen here, you sons of Levi! Is it for you a mere trifle that the G-d of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel to bring you close to himself, so that you can do the work in the tabernacle of Adonai and stand before the community serving him? He has brought you close and all your brothers and sons of Levi with you. Now you want the office of cohen too!” Then Moshe makes Korach and his followers very aware of the fact that he knows their true agenda; “That’s why you and your group have gathered against Adonai! After all, what is Aharon that you complain against him?”
So we can see the process of critical thinking in this incident with G-d protecting Moshe and Aharon with the skill and blessing of discernment. Moshe’s humility is evident in the fact that he did not defend himself in this confrontation. Again, he deferred the final decision to G-d and righteously addressed the accusations made by Korach and his followers. Moshe’s trust in G-d is also evident throughout this confrontation as was his humility as he pleaded with G-d not to destroy the entire assembly (16:22).
We may surmise that G-d may have in some way informed Moshe that He was going to cause an earthquake that would specifically consume Datan, Aviram, and all their households and send them to Sh’ol because Moshe made the statement in 16: 29-30 as follows: “But if Adonai does something new- if the ground opens up and swallows them and everything they own, and they go down alive to Sh’ol- then you will understand that these men have had contempt for Adonai.” In addition, the 250 men who had offered incense in a challenge to Moshe’s position were destroyed by fire from Adonai (v.35). It is not until we reach Numbers 26:10-11 that we learn that Korach was also killed, but his sons survived.
Concerning the Zohar, there is an interesting correlation between Korach’s position and that to which he was striving to obtain but was not rightly his position according to G-d’s assignment.
“ He who makes the right left and the left right, as it were, lays waste the world.” We can easily apply this statement to our contemporary society with its degradation of G-d’s Word under the guise of diversity, inclusiveness, and tolerance. According to the Zohar, “Aharon represented the right and the Levites the left, and Korach sought to make the right and left change places, and therefore he was punished.” He was also guilty of lashon hara, the evil tongue, for which he was also punished.” Since Korach attempted to change G-d’s order fixed in heaven and below on earth, Korach was punished and perished above and below.
The Zohar states that “ If one runs after that which is not his, it flies from him, and what is more, he loses his own as well. So Korach pursued that which was not his, and he lost his own without obtaining the other.” Many of us may be able to apply this philosophy to our own lives. A couple of scenarios may may include the following:
You have a stable position in a work environment but you are lusting after the position of a coworker which in itself is a sin. In an effort to get promoted, you may start gossiping about that individual’s performance, personal issues, or how much better you think you could perform in that position. All of this is done in front of your friends and/or other coworkers with whom you are able to persuade into thinking that you have a valid argument.
Next, you go to the person and initiate a conversation that may take many forms. One may be from a similar tack taken by Korach. You may tell the person that you have noticed that they seem to be overworked and that another position or another job may be what they “really need.” Or you may challenge them by accusing them of acting as if they were better than everyone else in the office/hospital/school/religious organization, etc. You may even challenge their preparedness for the position they hold but you want.
The scenarios are endless, but I believe I have made my point that there are many people who embody the attitude and lust for another’s position as did Korach, or for another’s home, possessions, or even their wife or husband. This is such as serious issue that G-d made the 10th Command against such attitudes, including lust: “ Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male of female slave, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” This includes one’s position, whether it be in a professional venue, or private, such as retirement status, or domestic role status whereby one of a couple works outside the home, and the other stays at home and manages the household. There are people who lust after this type of a situation which is certainly biblical.
Understanding the deeper concepts of G-d’s Commands/ Torah/ Instructions/Law is imperative to developing a closer relationship to YHVH/Yahshua. This is why he came to show us how to relate to Him and to our fellow man. Accordingly, we need to learn how to think critically and discern the spirits as did Moshe and so many others of G-d’s people. 1 John 4:1 reads “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from G-d, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Hebrews 5:14 tells us that “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
In our world which is becoming extremely secular in opposition to G-d and his Word, embracing technologies that lesson the significance of being human with all of the characteristics, qualities, and potentialities of individuals and societies to draw close to G-d and live in peace, we must keep our hearts and minds in G-d’s Torah, pray diligently for a clean heart (Ps. 139), and “run” to His Word daily “ I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. Teach me, L-rd, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight” (Psalm: 119:32-5).
Haftarah: 1 Sh’mu’el (Samuel) 11:14-12:22
In this haftarah, Korach’s descendant. Sh’mu’el, relents to the people’s demand for a human king to rule over them, but rebukes them for having the wrong motive for the demand. Man’s wisdom leads to death, and they should have known that a human king would never equate to a theocracy with G-d in charge. Realizing the potential problems that have been snowballing since the time an earthly monarch was established, Sh’mu’el insists that a monarchy in Israel establish a kingly theocracy whereby the king would serve G-d and obey Torah rather than being self-serving and self-seeking personal aggrandizement. He reminds them that if they follow G-d’s Torah, all will be well with them. If they choose to rebel, Adonai will oppress them and their leaders (1 Sam. 12:14-15). Thunder and rain fell that day to show G-d’s displeasure at the sin of the people for asking for a king. Yet, the people were not destroyed. Rather, Sh’mu’el admonished them not to turn away from Adonai; not to turn toward useless things lest they be destroyed. Sh’mu’el continued to pray for the people and instruct them in the good and right way (1 Sam. 12:21). As we are now living in the end times, even the latter days, true believers are continuing to develop their ability to discern the spirits and realize that G-d is a about to exact His judgement and progressive punishments that He warned the people would occur with continued rebellion against His Torah (Deut. 28:15-69). Yet, G-d is still holding back full judgement that men would repent and turn to learning and following His Torah. This is the Seven-fold witness that described a true believer stated seven times in the Book of Revelation. For specific scriptures go to http://www.rabdavis.org and search “seven-fold witness.”
B’rit Chadashah: 2 Timothy 2:8-21
The theme of this narrative is perseverance in following G-d’s Torah and not being taken in by the worthless activities and goals of the secular world, including Artificial Intelligence. This admonishment is described in detail in the book of Ecclesiastes. Sha’ul encourages Timothy to continually remind the people not to engage in word battles specifically, not only for the damage they do to those involved, but also to those who are within hearing distance. He tells Timothy that “G-d’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words: ‘The L-rd knows his own’ and ‘Let everyone who claims he belongs to the L-rd stand apart from wrongdoing.’” “If a person keeps himself free from defilement by those who are meant for dishonorable use, he will be a vessel set aside for honorable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work. (2 Tim. 2:21).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart