Korach, Numbers 16:1-18:32
After weeks of complaints and difficulties and restlessness among the Children of Israel, Moses and Aaron face the greatest challenge yet to their leadership. Over the course of the last several weeks the Children of Israel have questioned and complained about their situationfrom the lack of variety of food to Miriams questioning of Moses wife, to the spies who twisted the report from the Promised Land fearing the energy needed to overtake the residents. The Children of Israel have been filled with discontent, with impatience on the journey from slavery toward people-hood, and with an attitude filled with mistrust even as God has entrusted them with the Ten Commandments.
And now Korah and his followers, Dathan and Abiram dispute Moses authority to lead the people. They challenge Moses and Aarons priestly classification even though Korah himself is part of the same priestly class, a descendant of Levi. The text says, They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, You have gone too far! For all the community are holy and all of them, and Adonai is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above Adonais congregation?
Korahs seemingly egalitarian bentthat all are holy is deceptive. Yes, the Torah states that the Children of Israel Shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation but in this narrative in the book of Numbers, the Israelites are divided by roles and responsibilities. There are the Kohanim, the priests who offer the sacrifices, the Levites who assist in the great endeavor of worship and the Israelites. Each has their role among the people and for the welfare of the people. Each role has been outlined, especially in relationship to the tabernacle in the desert. Each tribe has its place around the tabernacle and each tribe has a task in caring for the Ohel Moed, the Tent of Meeting. Thus God dwells among the entire people in the Tabernacle and in the sacred work that they are engaged in whether carrying parts of the Tent of Meeting or living the covenantal life. In these ways holiness is spread over the people through devotion to God and their tasks. Korahs challenge of Moses and Aaron can only be seen as an affront not just to them personally and to their leadership but to God and the system God designed and gave to the children of Israel at Sinai. In some ways, Korah is rightthe whole community is holy and Adonai is in their midst. However he gets it wrong when he says that Moses and Aaron raise themselves up. It is God who raised them up.
Thus Korahs fate is doomed, not just because he challenges Moses and Aarons authority but because he doesnt get the notion that their holiness stems from God. God chose Moses and Aaron as God chose the people Israel to be in covenant with. God imbued Moses and Aaron with leadership and with authority. Korah saw himself as leadership material, and he was as a Levite himself, but he did not have the one thing Moses and Aaron did and that was Gods blessing.
Thus Korah and his followerss fate were sealed with this untimely challenge of God. And they were consumed by plague and by the earth opening up and swallowing them.
As the portion continues, Moses and Aaron are commanded to collect from every tribal chieftain a staff including the Levites. The name of each tribal leader is inscribed on the staff and they are placed in near the Ark of the Covenant in the Tent of Meeting. God says, The staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout, and I will rid Myself of the incessant mutterings of the Israelites against you. Once and for all God will put to rest the leadership issues concerning the priesthood. Of course the next daythe staff of Aaron flowers, once again proving that Gods blessing of leadership falls upon Aaron and his descendants.
This is one more proof for the Children of Israel. God has learned that they need to see proof and be reminded of it regularly.
That is the challenge for each of us. When there seems to be few miracles like the parting of the Red Sea, or voices from Mt. Sinai, how do we doubters and disbelievers rekindle our faith? How do the scientific and we who prefer the rational bolster our faith in the One who blesses us with holiness?
For us the challenge is to open our eyes to the miracles of each and every day that are still with us. These are the miracle of the rose, of music and of love. These are the miracle of community, and caring in an indifferent and cruel world. These are the miracles that help us reaffirm our faith in God.
May we open are eyes and yes, our hearts.
Posted by Lee at June 15, 2004 06:52 PM
