Korach (Korah)

Numbers 16:1-18:32
1 Samuel 11:14–12:22

“Falling on Faces”

POSTED 27 JUNE, 2008

by Mark Huey
mhuey@outreachisrael.net

“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 action, and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, ‘You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?’ When Moses heard this, he fell on his face” (Numbers 16:1-4).

When most people think of this Torah portion, the title naturally reminds them of the insurrection that Korah initiated when he challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Unsatisfied with their delegated responsibilities, Korah and some two hundred and fifty leaders in the congregation asked Moses and Aaron why they exalted, or lifted themselves above the assembly. This accusation came without any known warning. The question in Moses’ mind was so astounding that his initial reaction was to simply fall on his face before the Lord. This dramatic response to Korah’s indictment was almost as spectacular as the signs that soon followed, as God judged the rebellious followers of Korah, and then categorically established Aaron as the Levite chosen for His special assignment as the high priest.

While reading through this portion, I noted that the act of falling on one’s face and pleading for understanding or mercy occurred an additional two times. The next time we witness this act of contrition and intercession taking place is when God communicates the judgment that is ready to be executed upon the congregation of Israel to Moses and Aaron:

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.’ But they fell on their faces and said, ‘O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?’” (Numbers 16:20-22).

Just before this event, Korah and his cohorts, Dathan and Abiram, had leveled a series of serious charges against Moses. Korah was a Levite and he was not satisfied with his position of service in the Tabernacle rituals. He wanted to be on the level of Aaron, if not replace him. Dathan and Abiram, who were Reubenites, had a different motive. As sons of the firstborn of Jacob, they thought they deserved to be the leaders of Israel. They looked back at the recent failure to enter into the Promised Land and blamed Moses for the defeat by the Amalekites and the Canaanites. Even though Moses had warned the Israelites that they had missed their opportunity, the blame was directed to Moses from these ungrateful rebels (Numbers 15:41-45). As the accusations came forth, Moses was angered and he made a request to the Lord:

“Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, ‘Do not regard their offering! I have not taken a single donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them’” (Numbers 16:15).

Moses knew about his special relationship with God. He could recall all of the encounters with the Holy One back to the burning bush experience. As you should remember, Moses was somewhat of a reluctant leader. He questioned his ability to articulate the words of the Lord and was subsequently told to bring his brother Aaron onto the leadership team in order to effectively communicate the words of the Lord to Pharaoh and the Israelites. But these accusations were too much to bear. Moses was grieved with his accusers, and so he offered a challenge to the two hundred and fifty insurrectionists to take up a fire pan with incense and bring it before the Holy One the next day.

As the glory of God descended upon the Tent of Meeting, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron that He is going to pour out His wrath upon the congregation. It was at this word that the two men fell on their faces and pleaded for mercy for those gathered. At their request, the Lord gives them a way to separate out the rebellious from the somewhat innocent:

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the congregation, saying, “Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.”’ Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, and he spoke to the congregation, saying, ‘Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin’” (Numbers 16:23-26).

By falling on their faces and pleading for mercy, Moses and Aaron received a temporary solution to keep the innocent from being swallowed up in the dramatic judgment that was shortly to follow. The ground opened up and swallowed the men who were allied with Korah. This was followed by fire coming forth and consuming the two hundred and fifty men who had offered up the incense:

“As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry, for they said, ‘The earth may swallow us up!’ Fire also came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense” (Numbers 16:31-35).

Suffice it to say, Moses and Aaron were totally vindicated by these dramatic examples of God executing His judgment. But their exercise of falling on their faces was not complete. The very next day, the congregation of Israel decided to blame Moses and Aaron for the judgment meted out to Korah and his rebellious cohort:

“Moses therefore spoke to the sons of Israel, and all their leaders gave him a rod apiece, for each leader according to their fathers' households, twelve rods, with the rod of Aaron among their rods” (Numbers 17:6).

This was not a good thing for the Israelites to be doing. Moses and Aaron definitely had the Lord on their side of the struggle for leadership, and He again communicates to them that additional judgment was coming. As they fell upon their faces to intercede, Moses understood that a plague was coming and that it was imperative for Aaron to take his censer with fire from the altar with incense and appeal to God for mercy:

“Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.’ Then they fell on their faces. Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!’” (Numbers 16:43-46).

The intercession worked, but not until after many Israelites had died because of the plague:

“He took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was checked. But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah. Then Aaron returned to Moses at the doorway of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been checked” (Numbers 16:48-50).

The rebellion was checked, but not without a significant loss of life. Not only did Israel loose two hundred and fifty leaders from the tribes of Levi and Reuben, but apparently, the insurrection also infected many more. These were serious consequences for the people of Israel.

The Falling on Face Alternative

As I reflected upon these dramatic events, a number of thoughts came to mind. First, if you can place yourself back in time as a witness to these judgments, you will understand that there were very serious messages being communicated to Israel. Since this was taking place just a short while after the incidents concerning the twelve spies, and the subsequent aborted attempt to take the Land without the protection of God, you can conclude that there was a concerted attempt to challenge the leadership of Moses. When you contemplate watching the ground open up and swallowing Korah and his household and companions, this conjures up images of a Hollywood production. Then, when you enhance the judgment with the fire coming forth from the Most High to consume the two hundred and fifty men who had offered up incense, you can imagine the special effects competing for an Oscar. But this was not a fantasy or figment of some writer’s imagination. These were real episodes in the life of Israel. If you had been there as a witness, the images would never leave your memory. On top of all this, the rapidity of a plague moving through the camp with the loss of thousands of people would also have an impact on your mind. It is obvious that God was sending a very strong signal to Korah’s contemporaries—and to generations yet to come—that a rebellious spirit against His anointed is not something one should have.

As I thought about all this, I was quick to be reminded of the humble character of Moses and how he displayed it during this defiant attempt to usurp his authority. Three times during the course of these trials, Moses fell on his face before the Holy One for understanding and for intercessory pleadings for his fellow Israelites. To me, this was a great example of how Believers should be react to crises that inevitably come our way.

I then reflected upon the last time I went down on my face with intercessory merciful prayers for my loved ones who are perishing. I was convicted that it had been far too long since the last time I had cried out for mercy for those who still, to this day, do not acknowledge a relationship with the Messiah Yeshua. In many respects, this is a chronic crisis because none of us knows when our loved ones’ numbered days are to end. This is even more reason to take the time to fall on the face and implore for mercy!

I have to continually ask myself when the last time I fell on my face and pleaded with the Lord was, for understanding and wisdom for situations beyond my ability to fully comprehend. It is usually not often that I assume a prostrated position. And yet, Moses’ example—and others throughout the Scriptures—are given to us as instructions for our own walk with the Messiah.

How about you? When was the last time you humbled yourself and followed Moses’ example of falling on your face seeking God for mercy for your loved ones, or wisdom on how to handle various challenges? Is it possible that the Father will honor our humble, prostrate requests for compassion for the lost, and give us answers to predicaments that perplex us? Here, when Moses pleaded for mercy and wisdom, it appears that the Lord reacted favorably and gave him warnings about how to prevent further loss of life. Perhaps there is something about falling on your face and physically admitting that you are totally dependent upon Him and cry out for answers, that pleases the Father of Lights.

Perhaps in His mercy, lost loved ones will be saved and solutions to life’s challenges will usher forth. It sure worked for Moses. Could it possibly have similar results for us?

We have nothing to lose, except some pride and time. Most have too much of the former, while use of the latter, is suspect.

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.