When I think of Korach/Korah, and his rebellion against the Lord, the famous saying of legendary Russian theater director Konstantin Stanislavski come to mind: “There are no small roles, only small actors.” Stanislavski required, or even demanded that every actor in his production committed to their part, no matter how important or unimportant it may have seemed to them. When you were cast, no matter the role you were cast for, on the stage each actor completed the vision, the staging, and ultimately the story portrayed. Even if you just walked across the stage at that one important moment to distract for a dramatic shift or set change, your part was vital to the whole.

In Numbers 16:1-2, the rebellion starts, with men of importance and renown gathering behind Korach/Korah moving against Moses:

וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח, בֶּן-יִצְהָר בֶּן-קְהָת בֶּן-לֵוִי; וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב, וְאוֹן בֶּן-פֶּלֶת–בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן

וַיָּקֻמוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה, וַאֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתָיִם, נְשִׂיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד, אַנְשֵׁי-שֵׁם “

“Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown” (Num. 16:1-2).

In last week’s Torah portion we read of the devastating testimony of the ten spies who gave a false report to Israel, and the forty year judgment. Korach’s rebellion starts with an accusation, “Enough of you! For all the congregation is holy, all of them, and the Lord is in their midst. Why then do you lift yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (Num. 16:3).

Moses sees through this very quickly and responds, “He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you? Yet you seek the priesthood as well?” (Num. 16:10).

The Lord very quickly demonstrates that Moses and Aaron are the ones He has anointed for their purpose, consuming with fire the 250 leaders who came with Korach, while Korach himself was swallowed up by the earth. Nevertheless, the children of Israel came and accuse, the very next day, Moses and Aaron of killing the people of the Lord – and He settles this new question of leadership by causing the staff of Aaron to bring forth buds, and blossom and bring forth ripe almonds: the almond branch of resurrection.

The Living God brought forth fruit from a dead branch, a rod that Aaron had probably carried for many years. A staff that without a doubt had no life in it.

The sages of Israel question why Korach would be so bold as to believe he could overthrow the will of God in His choosing of Moses and Aaron for their respective roles.

We learn from the psalms that some of Korach’s sons did not join him in his rebellion, rebelling against the leadership and rebellion of their father, they did not die in the wilderness; as Psalms 42, 44–49, 84, 85, 87 and 88 are attributed to “sons of Korach.”

The rabbis explain that Korach had a vision of seeing his descendants serving in the Temple, and writing/singing songs and psalms of praise. This, they explain, led him to believe that he would be victorious in his rebellion.

Yet, the Lord demonstrated that His choice had not changed. No matter the “prophetic” vision, if it does not line up with the revealed will of God, it is not from Him. How did the Lord testify as to His choice? Resurrection.

This was the sign of the Lord’s chosen High Priest and Messiah: life from the dead. This sign of life from the dead (resurrection) was to remain before the Ark of the Testimony (Num. 17:10), a reminder that the authority of the high priest lay in the resurrection: the sign of the shepherds staff.

As the author of Hebrews writes, “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood of an everlasting covenant, our Lord Yeshua, make you complete in every good thing to do His will, accomplishing in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Messiah Jesus. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20-21).

And in Him, you have been chosen, by His resurrection, to serve Him and accomplish His will upon the earth. In His Kingdom there are no small roles to play, as we are called, not cast, in His Great Commission. Walk where He has set you, do so in faithfulness, and in due time He will allow you to see just how monumental your role actually is. You may not receive an academy award, but He will be your eternal reward (Rev. 22:12; Eph. 2:6).

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:31).

Be well. Shalom.

In Numbers 14:26-35, the children of Israel hear the verdict of the Lord concerning the incident of the spies: one year for every day, 40 years. Now, imagine if you were a nineteen (19) year old who anxiously awaited return of the spies, you heard their testimony, and expected to immediately begin preparations to enter the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yet, tragically, you stand hearing the same news as your parents: forty (40) years. Those twenty (20) years and above, save for Joshua and Caleb, will not enter the Promised Land, but will die in the dessert.

Imagine the despair that overcomes the camp. Despair leading to the ill-conceived attempt to take the Land in Numbers 14:44-45. Now they had to live with the knowledge that their hope was deferred, and for some would never be witnessed. How do we understand this? How do we live in the midst of a judgment that surrounds us?

We will often listen attentively to voices that speak relief in our trying circumstances. In Jeremiah 29:10-14, a false prophet, Hananiah attempts to encourage Jewish exiles in Babylon, by prophesying that the exile would only last two (2) years. Hananiah died for speaking presumptuously. Jeremiah, however, explains rather sharply that the Jewish people will be in exile for seventy (70) years: one year for each of the sabbatical years that Israel did not observe since entering the Promised Land (2 Chron. 36:20-21), a judgment similar to the wilderness generation.

Everything they had known lay in waste: the Temple, the palaces, their homes, etc. They were expecting a quick deliverance, but that is not what was decreed from Heaven. They are told in Jeremiah 29:4-9: build homes, get married, have children and grandchildren, because this is where you will be. Then, inexplicably the Lord says, “Seek the welfare of the city to which I have caused you to go in exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for your welfare is bound up in its welfare” (Jer. 29:7). Pray for those holding you captive!? Pray for their blessing!? For now, your well-being is bound up with theirs!?

Nevertheless, the Lord gives hope, just not as we might expect it: “For I know what plans I have in mind for you,’ say the Lord, ‘plans for well-being, not for bad things; so that you can have hope for a future’” (Jer. 29:11).

This verse is often misapplied to mean that the Lord will very quickly deliver us from our trial, our tribulations, and to that hope-filled future promised in this verse. Yet, this verse was spoke at the beginning of the exile. Jeremiah 29:11 is encouraging endurance: in captivity, in tribulation, in poverty, in persecution, and illness.

The people hearing these words 2,500 years ago did not hear “good news,” they heard years of struggle, a lack of freedom, and physical distance from the promises of God. However, the Lord tells us how to endure such circumstances in this verse:

1) The Lord has a purpose, a plan, and a time for release in mind for His people, meaning His promise is still present.

2) These are plans for שָׁלוֹם/shalom, meaning wholeness, completeness, peace, and repair.

3) The plans of God give us תִּקְוָה/tiqvah, meaning a cord and hope, from a root meaning to bind together, wait, and expect. As Isaiah tells us, “But they who wait (קוה) on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isa. 40:31). Those who קָוָה/qāvâ, “are bound together” with the Lord will renew their strength.

4) This strength and hope propels us to the אַחֲרִית/acharit, the end, last, future, and posterity.

All this is echoed and strengthened in Jeremiah 29:12-14, “When you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you see me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly; and I will let you find me,’ says the Lord.”

Often, we interpret the “future and hope” to mean immediate relief, but what the Lord is saying is, “I will give you the hope needed to connect to the future destiny.” Adversity, trial, and tribulation are times of building strength and faith endurance in Him, while binding ourselves tighter to Him. The apostle Paul wrote from such a place when in a jail cell in Philippi; and in the midst of that deep, dark, wet jail cell, with a seemingly bleak future, he wrote, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). The promise: every need fulfilled; every lack taken care of. Why, because of the future and hope.

The author of Hebrews encouraged, “Now even though we speak this way, dear friends, we are confident that you have the better things that come with being delivered. For God is not so unfair as to forget your work and the love you showed for him in your past service to his people – and in your present service too. However, we want each one of you to keep showing the same diligence right up to the end, when your hope will be realized; so that you will not become sluggish, but will be imitators of those who by their trust and patience are receiving what has been promised” (Heb. 6:9-12).

This was written to Jewish disciples who were on the verge of giving up faith in Messiah to avoid persecution; but did you see it, the author references Jeremiah, “the same diligence right up to the end, when your hope will be realized.”

In Rev. 21:6, and 22:13, Messiah is called the “beginning and the End.” Who is the end? Messiah. In 1 Timothy 1:1, the apostle Paul writes of Yeshua that He is “our hope.” Who is our hope? Jesus. Who is the “future and hope” that will carry us through the difficult exile, tribulation and trial? Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah.

In Him: He is our future, and He is our Hope. Now קָוָה/qāvâ, wrap yourself up in Him.

Be well. Shalom.