Shalom Chaverim (friends),
Welcome to my very first blog post! I am really excited about this and hope you will enjoy it. It came to me recently that it was a shame to e-mail out these messages and photos each week as a cover to my Torah studies and not have them saved anywhere. So I decided to start posting them on a blog so they will be archived and people can have access to them at any time.
So..... (drum roll please.........)
Here it is - Voice for Israel's premiere Blog post #1
Greetings from the Land of Israel and welcome to this week's Torah study from Parashat Korach (Korah - Bald). I'm sending it out a little early since tomorrow I will be at the Sha'are Tzedek hospital for an MRI test. Thanks for your prayers that I will be calm and at peace; and that anything that needs to be revealed will be brought to the light so that I can walk in good health. Todah L'El (thank God) for excellent medical services and technology in Israel!
Shaare Zedek in the 1950s
By the way, everything went well with the MRI. The technicians were great. As they prepared to slide me into this tube, they said, "Think happy thoughts" . Then they put a round thing in my hand and said, "This is the panic button.... but don't use it too often!" :)
Ha ha! I didn't have to use it even once. Just imagined myself suntanning on the Mediterranean beach and enjoyed the rest.
Shaare Tzedek Medical Center in Jerusalem
In last week’s study (Shlach L’cha), we could already see the seeds of rebellion being sown within the community of Israel as, in fear and unbelief, the Israelites threatened to select a leader (other than Moses) and return to Egypt. The seeds of revolt had already been planted and were just waiting to break out into full blown rebellion.
In this week’s Torah study, the rebellion continued with the mutiny against Moses’ leadership by a man named Korach קֹרַח, which means ‘baldness, ice, hail, or frost’. The Torah portion opens with ‘Vayikash Korach’ (‘And Korach took...’) – an act of selfishness which led to division and disaster in Israel.
The Punishment of Korah (detail from the fresco Punishment of the Rebels by Sandro Botticelli (1480–1482) in the Sistine Chapel)
Basically, two groups expressed discontentment with the leadership of Moses and Aaron: Datan & Aviram (from the tribe of Reuven) led one group of rebels and Korach (a Levite) led the other. In the end, God vindicated Moses and Aaron while severely punishing those who joined the rebellion.
It is incredible that 250 men joined the rebellion; but even more incredible that they were 'princes' in Israel - the very elect of society! Today, it is just as unbelievable that people occupying high positions in churches and the political realm are siding against Israel and joining with those who seek to steal her God-given land.
Yeshua warned us that in the last days, many will be deceived and let astray – even the very elect of society. “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24)
The rebels were deceived into siding with the enemy of God’s chosen leadership, just as many are today choosing to side against Israel. Moses called Datan and Aviram to go up (aleh); but they replied ‘loh na’aleh’ (we won’t go up).
“And Moses sent to call Datan and Aviram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up!”(Numbers 16:12)
Ironically, those who refused to ‘go up’ to negotiate peace with Moses ended up ‘going down’ to their deaths. The earth swallowed them up alive and they went down to Sheol (place of the dead).
“So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. “ (Numbers 16:33)
Datan and Abiram Devoured by the Earth (illumination by Hesdin of Amiens from a circa 1450–1455 "Biblia pauperum" (Bible of the Poor))
Moses spoke to the congregation of Israel, “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away in their sins’. (Numbers 16:26)
We must also stay far away from those who rebel against God in His election of Israel, for when Yeshua returns He will destroy all the enemies of Israel.
The Power of Unity
The name Korach is also derived from Korcha, which means ‘split’. The split between the Israelites caused the ground to split and swallow up those causing the trouble. People causing strife, trouble, discord and division among brothers is one of the things God says He absolutely can't stand (hate is such a harsh word :) (Proverbs 6:19)
Today, the Jewish people still struggle with division and strife. In Israel, there is animosity and contention between various sects of Judaism: Ultra-Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, secular, and even Messianic.
Chasidic man, secular soldier, and Arabic woman on bus
There is such a great power in Unity, as it is written,
“Hinei mah tov u’manayim; shevet gam achim b’yachad.”
הִנֵּה מַה-טּוֹב, וּמַה-נָּעִים-- שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם-יָחַד
“Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1)
It's easy to sing and dance these well known words traditional dance,(see awesome You Tube video) Hinei Matov U'Manayim but the real issue is - can we live it out?
This Psalm goes on to say that this very place (unity) is where God COMMANDS His blessing. Wow! I want God to command a blessing on me and my household. Then why is it so hard for us to just all get along? It sometimes seems like a continual battle against strife (or am I the only one)?
No, we are not to come into unity with those who are rebellious towards God and His Torah; but may we all learn to walk in greater humility, contentment and gentleness towards all people; and may God one day bring unity and peace between brothers.
Being Content
I've been thinking a lot about Korach since Shabbat and about how he relates to my life. What was the reason that Korach led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron? Moses knew his inner motives.
He said, 'Isn't it enough that God has made you a Levite and given you a special position to serve Him in the tabernacle? Do you covet the priesthood too?' (loose paraphrase of Numbers 16:8-10)
Korach wasn't content to be 'just' a Levite. He wanted to exalt himself into a higher, more prestigious position. I think the Bible calls this, "Selfish ambition" which it is said causes all kinds of trouble, confusion and strife. Oye very!
My devotion this morning was about this very subject (from this great book called Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman) . She said that coral invertebrates (called polyps) work under the water creating coral reefs. We have a beautiful coral reef in Eilat which I soooooo want to see again (haven't been there for 13 years).
Eilat underwater observatory photo: www.goisrael.com Dafna Tal_EILAT_585
Ok - how do polyps & coral reefs in Eilat possibly relate to Korach you ask? Patience (savlanut) I'm getting there! These polyps just faithfully go about doing their thing, having no idea (I don't think so anyways) that they are creating these magnificent coral reefs that we love to snorkel in.
So, she says, God has called some of us to be 'spiritual polyps' (don't know if I like that name though). We work in seclusion and obscurity. Hidden from public view; but we should not grumble and complain. For this is where God has placed us.
I was out walking my dogs, Pepper and Nina, one day in our village (moshav).
and the dogs took me down this dead end street where I rarely go (since it leads to nowhere except a gorgeous view! Well worth the detour.
As I walked along, I had to stop and gaze upon this bush just sitting there on the side of this dead end road. It boasted such incredibly beautiful flowers that I had to stop and take a photo!
. . It felt kind of unfair to me. I questioned the Lord, "Why would you put such a beautiful flowering bush here.... on the side of some dead end road that hardly anyone would ever see? Why not display it somewhere that everyone can see its beauty?"
And then I felt the Lord speak to my heart of His love; and that He does not always put His treasures on display but guards them jealously. I began to weep, for I so often feel that I am secluded here in this little village behind the screen of my laptop. There are times I long to be 'out there' more often in the limelight; but I need to take a lesson from Korach (and from the polyps) and be content to 'bloom where I am planted' and not seek for some place or position that God, in His wisdom and mercy, has not intended for me.
God is looking for people who are willing to serve Him in these hidden places where they may not receive the praise and adulation of men; but will surely receive their reward one day from Heaven.
I like that. I hope those of you faithfully serving the Lord in obscurity and feeling that you're not doing anything 'great' for the Lord will also be encouraged.
To be continued........... (suspenseful music)
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There is so much more to this week's study but I will leave it here and let you read the rest for yourself. Also attached are bonus study questions to discuss in your congregation, fellowship or Bible study groups.
NOTE: TO RECEIVE THESE ON-LINE TORAH STUDIES, SEND ME AN E-MAIL: nesher.hannah@gmail.com and ask me to sign you up. It's completely free. In time I hope to have an automatic subscription thing going on my website but for now this is the limit of my technical abilities. :) Please pray for the right tech support!
Thank you so much for standing together with us here in the Land of Israel with your faithful prayers and generous giving. May Adonai richly bless you and keep you!
Shabbat Shalom with love from Israel,
Hannah & family
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