Rabbi's Drash

Korach

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5769

Bamidbar 13:1-15:41
 

The drash this week is about a man who did not enjoy a good reputation in Judaism, Korach. He rebelled against G-d and challenged the leadership of G-d's chosen leader, Moshe. As a consequence, Korach and 250 families were led to their destruction. Yet we know that G-d is merciful because we see that one of Korach's descendents was our prophet Sh'mu'el (Samuel); others wrote much of the beautiful poetry of the Psalms, and formed the chorus in the Temple worship. The lesson we can derive from this is that we can't always blame our poor behavior on bad upbringing. G-d will always lead us in the right direction when we are obedient to Him. Through the books of the Torah we see many challenges to the leadership of Moses, Korach's challenge being one of the most serious of these. These challenges not only came from many of the people but even from Miriam and Aharon-his own family. G-d however consistently and miraculously affirmed the leadership of Moshe. True leadership can only be appointed by G-d. Man can usurp the position but he will never be a good or godly leader even if he has a many followers willing to recognize that leadership. As we examine the history of the nation of Israel G-d was constantly causing confusion by appointing a younger son in the place of the first born and creating jealousy in the older son: Cain and Abel, Abraham's sons, Ishmael and Isaac, Esau and Jacob- Reuben and Judah, Joseph-Manasseh and Ephraim, King David, G-d accepted Abel's sacrifice instead of Cain's. Abraham was chosen not from special merit; he was, after all, a pagan, though he responded to G-d's choice. In his two sons we see again G-d's choice; Yitzchak, the heaven sent child, turning away Ishmael, the child of flesh. This story is repeated the next generation with Rivkah's twins: G-d put His hand on the younger, Jacob, even though Yitzchak tried to force G-d's hand to select Esau. Joseph, Jacob's second youngest was selected to be the savior of the incipient nation. Even as Jacob was dying, G-d used him to upset the natural order by blessing the fourth son, Judah, as the Lion, ignoring the rightful place of Reuben. Then he goes on to double bless Joseph and by crossing his hands he giving the first blessing to Ephraim, the youngest passing over Manasseh. Thus the leaders of the two kingdoms are established long before there is a nation of Israel. Judah becomes the leader of the southern Kingdom and Ephraim of the Northern Kingdom many centuries later. Later when the prophet Sh'mu'el looks for the person to replace King Saul, G-d leads him to Yishai's house to the youngest of eight sons, David a shepherd boy. And G-d tells Sh'mu'el, "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (I Sam 16:7ff). This is the basis of G-d's choice. We can simply ourselves: "What is G-d's will?" It is evident that G-d will choose; yet while we continue to seek G-d's will, we prefer to ignore it and to dictate to G-d what His will should be. When He shows us what He wants, we reply, "Not that way, this way!" This is what leads us into so much trouble. Korach is only a manifestation of this characteristic in mankind. Korach wasn't just any ordinary person wanting Moshe's job. According to Scripture, he was aysn "nasi", a prince in the nation. He was from the tribe of Levi, son of Itzhar son of Kehat, son of Levi; Kehat was the second son of Levi, the first was Gershon and the third was Merari. Kehat had four sons: Amram, Itzhar, Hebron and Uzziel. Moses under G-d's direction elected Elitzaphan son of Uzziel as the leader of the Kehatatites, passing over Korach (Num. 3:19, 30). Korach was a man of many obvious qualities and capabilities, a man of position…and he knew it. But he was consumed by jealousy because he perceived that he had been overlooked by G-d. G-d hadn't selected him to be one of His "elite". Korach wanted to set the record straight. Moshe tried to reason with him to accept what G-d had made him, to show him that greatness with G-d is very different than greatness among men. Moses practically offered to resign if G-d wanted Korach to take the place of leadership. Too often we measure true greatness in terms of wealth, power and prestige. We ruin our bodies, our relationships and our families in the pursuit of these things. We ignore the true values- peace in our hearts, serenity and unity in our homes. G-d's calling is to serve, not to be served. We look for positions of prominence and are unhappy to be called to the lesser, servant positions where G-d has placed us. We must ask ourselves what is our motive. Is it to be self-serving? Is it based on G-d's image of ourselves for service? Is it for G-d's good? Why do we come to a congregation? Is it for friendship… community…a good time and good food? We need to constantly check ourselves for the reason. Yeshua said, "Until we die to ourselves we can't live again". What does"to die to self" mean? It is the process of allowing G-d to appropriate us for His purpose. It is the presence of G-d in us. So why do we have so many conflicts among ourselves? It is because we have not dealt with our ego. And our ego is killing us! I am reminded of a comment that the great modern day rabbi Shlomo Riskin made on this Parasha when he said that democracy has become a big problem. We have accepted the belief in democracy. Democracy has made the majority right. We have made the rule by the people greater than G-d's rule. We have removed G-d as our king. Democracy is like the Tower of Babel. United we challenge G-d, rebelling against His principles. G-d says I lead; I choose; I have the last word. But man's principle is: I lead men; I choose men, and I tell you the final word, me. This is the great religion of humanity, crowning man in rebellion against G-d. Even in religion man is trying to reach and satisfy G-d by human effort. But no man can cover his sins. Without G-d's korban, sacrifice, we can't stand before G-d. Today's society values things that go against the Word of G-d. We value comfort more than work, freedom more than dependency on G-d, my time rather than to wait for G-d. I decide when. Take for example Shabbat; yes it is good, but on the day that I want, any day of the week and the moment that I want. G-d is the One who established the Shabbat but when we keep it, people say we are "under the law". Democracy has fooled all of us. We vote for a leader who makes all kinds of promises, what he will give and how he will lead. When he is elected all his promises are forgotten. All the political leaders are the same. Contrast this leadership with Moshe. He put himself under the revision of all the people. He was able to follow his faith because he knew he was not better than anyone else. He knew the reason he was in that position was because G-d told him to do it. From the beginning he wanted out and whatever he did, he did it. The leader placed by G-d realizes that he doesn't have the qualities necessary to lead the people of G-d. This makes him lean on G-d for everything. Democracy has changed the direction of the decision-making process from G-d toward us to man toward man. We elect ungodly leaders that lead by men's rules that are against what we believe. These people make decisions that only G-d should make. So we have substituted G-d for man and have approval by majority, even though it may go against our moral principles. In religious circles today, the majority has redefined morality denying biblical principles saying that the Word of G-d is not relevant for these times. The result is that many lives are destroyed. They find support for this process on the phrase that says "in the consensus of men comes the wisdom of G-d" which is totally taken out of context. It is actually referring to the consensus of godly people not a corrupt system. Godly people affirm the Word of G-d; they don't try to destroy it. Korach was a good politician and had many people on his side, people who were resentful of their position of being at the back instead of in front. Their families were placed at the south instead of the east which was considered the holiest of positions. When we are unhappy we blame others. When we are upset about something it doesn't begin with others, it begins within. When we are unhappy with ourselves we tend to get involved in the business of others. In this way we can forget our own situation while trying to become the savior of others. Often those who try to save us are in worse position than we are. Yeshua said don't look at the other speck in the other person's eye; examine the log in your own. Korach was upset because he hadn't been chosen to be a leader. Datan and Aviram were upset because they hadn't been given their right place as the tribe of the first-born. Do you feel that G-d hasn't put you in the position you deserve? Remember what Yeshua said: when you go to a banquet do not seat yourself in the front seat but take a seat at the back. In this way when the owner of the house comes and sees you at the front, he may take you to the back in front of everyone. Instead, if you are seated in the back, he may come and bring you to the front, honoring you in front of everyone. When you look for the higher positions you may be humiliated in front of everyone. But if you are in the lesser position you can be elevated. Let G-d place you in the position He has for you. In contrast to Korach you can choose to be like Moses, humble and allowing G-d to take you to the right place. May the Lord open your eyes to see where He wants you!    May G-d add blessings to His Word!      Rabbi Percy Johnson      Netanel ben Yochanan      [nxy [b lantn      © 2008 Use by Permission      Kehilat She’ar Yashuv

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