WEBVTT - The Rebellion of Korah: Part 2 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:02.320 Previously on the Chosen People. 0:00:02.880 --> 0:00:07.280 I have heard the Israelites complaints against me. Tell them this, 0:00:08.119 --> 0:00:11.280 All who were counted in the censes twenty years older 0:00:11.520 --> 0:00:15.920 will die in the desert. I swear that none will 0:00:16.079 --> 0:00:19.919 enter the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua. 0:00:20.640 --> 0:00:23.440 How could I possibly relay this message? 0:00:24.160 --> 0:00:29.240 Tell them what I said, Moses, And since Israel has 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:33.160 refused to enter the Promised Land, you will have them 0:00:33.240 --> 0:00:37.200 turn back. You will all go back into the wilderness 0:00:37.240 --> 0:00:41.479 in the direction of the Red Sea. Moses, what did 0:00:41.479 --> 0:00:42.280 the Lord tell you? 0:00:43.000 --> 0:00:47.320 Moses bottom lip began to quiver, and his trembling hands 0:00:47.479 --> 0:00:49.800 grasped at Joshua's arm. 0:00:50.479 --> 0:01:02.040 The Lord, the Lord has spoken forty years, four. 0:01:01.960 --> 0:01:04.840 Years of what exile. 0:01:06.120 --> 0:01:09.119 As if to punctuate the end of his speech and 0:01:09.240 --> 0:01:13.080 the finality of his words, the cloud pillar above the 0:01:13.120 --> 0:01:17.800 tabernacle crackled with fiery energy, and thunder shook the skies. 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:22.080 The people shrank back further, unable to take their eyes 0:01:22.120 --> 0:01:23.200 off the sky above. 0:01:31.520 --> 0:01:36.560 When one man sins, will God destroy them all. Cello, 0:01:36.680 --> 0:01:38.920 my friends, from here in the Holy Land of Israel, 0:01:39.080 --> 0:01:42.200 i'm l Extein with the International Fellowship of Christians and 0:01:42.280 --> 0:01:47.000 Jews and welcome to the Chosen people. The ground trembles 0:01:47.000 --> 0:01:50.040 beneath the feet of the Israelites as they gather together, 0:01:50.560 --> 0:01:55.760 but divided. Korach and his men, bold and unrepentant, stand defiant. 0:01:56.400 --> 0:02:01.040 Moses face down, pleads, Aaron waits, and in the camp 0:02:01.040 --> 0:02:05.120 a nation stands on the edge, uncertain of what comes next. 0:02:05.680 --> 0:02:11.079 Whoill Israel follow? Korrah asked why should Moses lead us? 0:02:11.600 --> 0:02:14.040 And now God is about to answer. 0:02:17.120 --> 0:02:20.760 Moses felt the Lord's fury as if it were his own. 0:02:21.480 --> 0:02:25.520 Rolling within the pillar of cloud high above, all of 0:02:25.680 --> 0:02:30.080 Israel had gathered to witness, and millions of eyes turned upward, 0:02:30.760 --> 0:02:36.720 all except Moses. He gripped his firepan tightly, glaring at 0:02:36.760 --> 0:02:40.720 the two hundred and fifty pretenders before him. At their 0:02:40.760 --> 0:02:46.720 forefront stood Cora, defiant. Dathan and Abiram, however, were absent, 0:02:47.440 --> 0:02:50.400 likely hiding in their tents and leaving Cora and his 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:56.320 followers to face judgment alone. Typical Moses thought all talk, 0:02:56.600 --> 0:02:59.560 but when the moment a leader rose, they were nowhere 0:02:59.600 --> 0:03:04.520 to be found. The thunder swelled, growing to a deafening roar. 0:03:05.240 --> 0:03:10.160 At its peak, Moses heard the Lord's voice booming yet 0:03:10.200 --> 0:03:14.600 discernible only to him, the chosen intermediary for Israel. 0:03:15.080 --> 0:03:20.960 Moses, take your brother and separate yourselves from the community. 0:03:21.600 --> 0:03:25.280 What will you do that they will know that I 0:03:25.320 --> 0:03:27.640 am in all consuming fire. 0:03:28.560 --> 0:03:33.280 Moses's stomach dropped out in fear, his momentary anger forgotten. 0:03:33.840 --> 0:03:37.720 In a moment of horror and clarity, Moses recalled his 0:03:37.840 --> 0:03:42.000 bitter words against the people the night before. In his anger, 0:03:42.400 --> 0:03:45.920 he had asked the Lord to reject these men, despite 0:03:46.000 --> 0:03:49.640 knowing it would mean their deaths, and now the Lord 0:03:49.800 --> 0:03:54.600 was declaring his intention to destroy the entire community. Regret 0:03:54.840 --> 0:03:59.840 flooded Moses's body as he remembered his calling, remembered his duty. 0:04:00.600 --> 0:04:04.880 Aaron must have read moses distress and discerned the divine 0:04:05.000 --> 0:04:08.760 fury in the thunder, because he was immediately a Moses's side. 0:04:09.160 --> 0:04:11.400 Aaron's face was etched in concern. 0:04:12.080 --> 0:04:13.720 I don't like this, Moses. 0:04:14.480 --> 0:04:18.000 What's going to happen? Whatever happens, stay by my side 0:04:18.120 --> 0:04:18.640 no matter what. 0:04:19.839 --> 0:04:24.440 Moses desperately grasped Aaron's arm, and they both delicately set 0:04:24.480 --> 0:04:27.960 down their firepands and fell face down before the Lord. 0:04:28.560 --> 0:04:33.280 At last, Moses, remembering his role as Israel's advocate, shouted 0:04:33.320 --> 0:04:34.280 above the din. 0:04:34.760 --> 0:04:39.280 My God, the God who yes wrath to all, the 0:04:39.279 --> 0:04:43.600 God of the spirits of all flesh, and understands all people. 0:04:44.680 --> 0:04:48.040 When one man sins, will you vent your wrath on 0:04:48.120 --> 0:04:49.120 the whole community. 0:04:50.040 --> 0:04:54.400 The wind swirled overhead and the thunder clapped in violent rage. 0:04:54.960 --> 0:04:58.360 Moses felt Aaron stiffen beside him, as if he understood 0:04:58.400 --> 0:05:02.120 immediately what the Lord intended to do. Aaron lifted his 0:05:02.200 --> 0:05:05.200 voice to the Lord as well, swelling with compassion for 0:05:05.240 --> 0:05:08.800 the people. His shouts were nearly muted against the warm 0:05:08.839 --> 0:05:10.599 wind raging through the canyons. 0:05:11.160 --> 0:05:15.040 Lord, you know the hearts of all men. You know 0:05:15.200 --> 0:05:18.520 that one man is sin against you, and let others astray. 0:05:19.400 --> 0:05:23.479 Please spare the rest of the children of Israel. 0:05:24.200 --> 0:05:27.359 A long moment passed, and the two men remained on 0:05:27.400 --> 0:05:31.080 their faces before the Lord, awaiting their God's decision. 0:05:31.920 --> 0:05:35.040 Tell the people to get away from the dwellings of Cora, 0:05:35.600 --> 0:05:37.200 Dartham and a Byron. 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:41.440 The thunder and lightning seemed to retreat within the clouds. 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:46.920 Moses peered upward, wondering what was happening. No, the light 0:05:47.120 --> 0:05:52.200 wasn't receding, it was being redirected, aimed like an arrow 0:05:52.920 --> 0:05:56.000 Moses and Aaron slowly got up from the ground. 0:05:57.160 --> 0:06:00.640 Joshua quickly, we have no time to waste the elders 0:06:00.640 --> 0:06:01.800 and spread warning to the camp. 0:06:02.080 --> 0:06:05.039 They need to steer clear from Cora, I honored Moses. 0:06:05.720 --> 0:06:09.800 Thunder clapped again, and this time lightning struck closer to 0:06:09.880 --> 0:06:14.719 Cora and his followers. Yet Cora remained unflinching, resolved in 0:06:14.760 --> 0:06:19.040 his rebellion. Moses had to give him credit. Though misguided, 0:06:19.360 --> 0:06:25.240 Cora was a strong leader, what wasted potential. Joshua acted swiftly, 0:06:25.680 --> 0:06:28.760 alerting the elders to spread the warning through the camp. 0:06:29.120 --> 0:06:33.240 Cora and his followers stood with their firepands, eyes shifting 0:06:33.279 --> 0:06:37.839 suspiciously to Moses and Aaron. When Joshua returned and nodded 0:06:37.880 --> 0:06:41.920 to Moses, it signaled the warning had spread. Keep away 0:06:42.000 --> 0:06:47.000 from the tents of Cora, Dathan, and Abirah. Moses, followed 0:06:47.000 --> 0:06:51.560 by Aaron, strode purposely through the courtyard, ignoring Cora and 0:06:51.640 --> 0:06:56.760 his men. Their fate were sealed beyond intervention. The rebels 0:06:56.839 --> 0:07:00.279 made their offering to the Lord and waited hope that 0:07:00.320 --> 0:07:04.719 he might accept them as Israel's new leaders. Lightning cracked 0:07:04.960 --> 0:07:09.640 and thunder echoed from the swirling cloud above, Moses shouted 0:07:09.680 --> 0:07:10.320 to the crowd. 0:07:10.840 --> 0:07:13.520 Everyone back back. The Lord is coming. 0:07:14.320 --> 0:07:19.720 Cora cackled from behind, mocking Moses further even above the 0:07:19.800 --> 0:07:21.239 war drums of the thunder. 0:07:21.880 --> 0:07:25.320 Enough, old man, your time commanding us is through. 0:07:26.160 --> 0:07:29.200 After today, the people will have a new regime. 0:07:29.520 --> 0:07:33.200 Moses frowned, raising his voice to address the rebels. 0:07:33.760 --> 0:07:36.040 Get away from the tents of these wicked men. 0:07:37.400 --> 0:07:39.760 Don't touch anything that belongs to them, or you'll be 0:07:39.800 --> 0:07:41.800 swept away because of all their sins. 0:07:43.160 --> 0:07:46.600 The people edged back even further from the tent as 0:07:46.720 --> 0:07:50.320 dread began to set on the faces of Dathan, Abiram 0:07:50.400 --> 0:07:55.000 and Corah's families. They eyed the crowd warily and cowered 0:07:55.000 --> 0:08:00.000 at Moses' words. The inciter's jaws were set. However, they 0:08:00.040 --> 0:08:04.520 seemed stubbornly determined to maintain their traitorous stance until the 0:08:04.600 --> 0:08:08.080 bitter end. Cora raised his voice to the crowd. 0:08:08.240 --> 0:08:10.160 Don't listen to this old fool. 0:08:10.960 --> 0:08:15.040 You're safe undermine, Cora, you rebellious fool. 0:08:15.360 --> 0:08:19.640 Moses bellowed to the crowd, his aged and frail voice 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:22.520 turned back to life by the strength and conviction of 0:08:22.560 --> 0:08:23.040 his heart. 0:08:23.640 --> 0:08:26.760 Listen to me, is real This is how you will 0:08:26.800 --> 0:08:29.640 know that the Lord sent me to do all these things, 0:08:29.920 --> 0:08:31.640 and that it was not of my own will. 0:08:32.600 --> 0:08:36.080 If these men die naturally, as all people do, and 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:39.840 suffer the fate of all, then I will relent and 0:08:39.960 --> 0:08:44.440 acknowledge that I in the greedy powermonger. These men accuse 0:08:44.520 --> 0:08:47.480 me of being. It will be a sign to you 0:08:47.600 --> 0:08:49.240 that the Lord has not sent me. 0:08:51.160 --> 0:08:57.120 But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, if the 0:08:57.280 --> 0:09:01.959 Brown opens its mouth and swallows them, if it opens 0:09:01.960 --> 0:09:07.760 and swallows them, along with all that belongs to them. 0:09:06.120 --> 0:09:09.640 So that they go down alive in the shale, then 0:09:09.720 --> 0:09:14.840 you will know that these men despise, and you will 0:09:14.840 --> 0:09:17.720 know that Aaron and I have indeed been appointed to 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:18.280 lead you. 0:09:19.040 --> 0:09:23.280 Moses proclamation was coupled with a bolt of lightning striking 0:09:23.320 --> 0:09:28.000 the earth. Then silence. All was still. 0:09:31.320 --> 0:09:32.079 Is that it. 0:09:33.040 --> 0:09:37.480 Moses looked Cora in the eyes. To Kra's surprise, they 0:09:37.480 --> 0:09:42.959 were filled with tears. Then the silence broke. The ground 0:09:43.040 --> 0:09:46.440 began to quake. It was as if the thunder in 0:09:46.480 --> 0:09:50.720 the ski stove underground to fuel its every movement. A 0:09:50.800 --> 0:09:54.120 jagged crack began to form around the empty space left 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:57.280 around the tents of the traitors. The people of Israel 0:09:57.360 --> 0:10:01.439 fell backward over themselves to get away. However, the cracks 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.400 did not expand beyond the boundary left around the tents 0:10:04.440 --> 0:10:09.600 of Daithan, Aberan and Corah. The crack began to widen 0:10:09.679 --> 0:10:14.240 and split, revealing the hungry more of Sheol itself beneath 0:10:14.280 --> 0:10:18.920 the earth's surface. Cora fell and scrambled backward. The members 0:10:18.960 --> 0:10:21.920 of their households, even the women and the children, tried 0:10:21.960 --> 0:10:26.280 to run, but to no avail. The greedy ground consumed 0:10:26.280 --> 0:10:31.040 them all, the usurpers, their families, their possessions, even their 0:10:31.080 --> 0:10:36.199 desperate cries. Everything Once it all tumbled out of sight 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:40.320 into the darkness below. A horrified Israel watched as the 0:10:40.400 --> 0:10:45.240 ground knit itself back together, leaving only open space and 0:10:45.440 --> 0:10:49.319 silence where the two households had been. Not a soul 0:10:49.600 --> 0:10:53.120 stirred in the eerie stillness, until the lightning in the 0:10:53.160 --> 0:10:57.000 cloud pillar resumed its frenetic crackling, drawing the eyes of 0:10:57.080 --> 0:11:00.520 Israel back to the tabernacle, where Cora's to two hundred 0:11:00.559 --> 0:11:05.240 and fifty followers still waited, abandoned by their leader. The 0:11:05.280 --> 0:11:08.880 thunder that had animated the ground seemed to spring from 0:11:08.880 --> 0:11:11.439 the earth and back into the skies to join the 0:11:11.559 --> 0:11:15.960 supernatural cacophony. The lightning leaped out of the cloud pillar 0:11:16.160 --> 0:11:19.600 and hurled itself toward the ground, fracturing into what was 0:11:19.640 --> 0:11:23.480 surely two hundred and fifty bolts of lightning. Even from 0:11:23.520 --> 0:11:27.559 this distance, Moses knew that a holy fire had consumed 0:11:27.600 --> 0:11:31.440 the remaining rebels. It may have been his imagination, but 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:34.199 Moses could have sworn he could see the smoke from 0:11:34.240 --> 0:11:38.520 their charred bodies wafting upward, intermingling with the incense from 0:11:38.559 --> 0:11:43.439 their now discarded fire pands. The people of Israel erupted 0:11:43.480 --> 0:11:46.760 in terror, fearing that the earth may swallow them all 0:11:46.800 --> 0:11:54.280 as well. Aaron was still reeling from the past day's 0:11:54.320 --> 0:11:58.840 events when the complaints began again. The Lord had instructed 0:11:58.840 --> 0:12:02.880 his third son, Eliezza, now the air, to retrieve the 0:12:02.920 --> 0:12:06.440 fire pans from the remains of Cora's followers to prevent 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:10.760 further defilement of the holy space. Elieza had then melted 0:12:10.800 --> 0:12:14.000 down the fire pans into sheets to cover the altar 0:12:14.080 --> 0:12:18.040 of burnt, offering a solemn reminder to Israel of the rebellion. 0:12:19.000 --> 0:12:22.439 The morning sun had only begun to glint off the scuffed, 0:12:22.559 --> 0:12:26.200 singed plates fixed to the altar, The smoke from the 0:12:26.280 --> 0:12:30.560 morning's ascension offering still rising when the crowd gathered again 0:12:30.600 --> 0:12:34.280 at the entrance. The terror of watching the earth swallow 0:12:34.320 --> 0:12:38.040 people alive had stripped them of reason, blinding them to 0:12:38.080 --> 0:12:42.360 the warning of the previous day. Aaron's eyes burned from 0:12:42.400 --> 0:12:45.880 the smoke as he stood at the tabernacle's front, watching 0:12:45.920 --> 0:12:49.439 his sons and Joshua try to calm the restless. 0:12:48.920 --> 0:12:52.239 Crowd there the murderers. 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:57.440 Aaron saw Joshua hurry off at that, undoubtedly to retrieve Moses. 0:12:58.120 --> 0:13:01.320 Aaron sighed, they would need to go and comfort them. 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:05.840 They were understandably spooked, and since the uncertainty of being 0:13:05.880 --> 0:13:09.000 barred from the Promised Land, the tenuous unity of the 0:13:09.080 --> 0:13:13.280 Israelite people hung by a thread, there wasn't much keeping 0:13:13.280 --> 0:13:16.679 them together now, but they had to try, for the 0:13:16.720 --> 0:13:21.000 sake of the next generation. They had to try. As 0:13:21.120 --> 0:13:25.520 Aaron approached the inflamed crowd gathered against them, Moses appeared 0:13:25.559 --> 0:13:28.959 from the other direction, and the crowd howled and grumbled 0:13:29.000 --> 0:13:29.560 all the more. 0:13:30.520 --> 0:13:34.400 You kill the Lord's fabel, you provoked thehavior of the 0:13:34.520 --> 0:13:35.640 Lord against us. 0:13:36.840 --> 0:13:40.240 Aaron saw Moses flinch, and he wondered if the crowd's 0:13:40.240 --> 0:13:44.640 frantic words stung Moses with their underlying truth. The sins 0:13:44.679 --> 0:13:47.680 of Cora and the others were grievous, but the people 0:13:47.720 --> 0:13:52.080 did not realize how deeply their mistrust wounded him. Before 0:13:52.120 --> 0:13:56.160 either brother could respond, the glory of the Lord blazed 0:13:56.240 --> 0:14:01.199 once more above the tabernacle, lightning crackling, and thunder darkening 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:05.280 the sky. Aaron spun to face it, his chest tightening 0:14:05.320 --> 0:14:08.280 with dread as he recalled the same force that had 0:14:08.280 --> 0:14:12.000 struck down his eldest sons. In their pride, he struggled 0:14:12.000 --> 0:14:14.360 to push away thoughts of their final moments in the 0:14:14.440 --> 0:14:17.600 most holy place, Gasping as if the air had been 0:14:17.640 --> 0:14:21.720 stolen from him. His pulse roared in his ears, barely 0:14:21.840 --> 0:14:25.960 masking the wails of the terrified crowd behind him. The 0:14:26.040 --> 0:14:29.920 Lord spoke words that only Moses could hear. For suddenly 0:14:30.320 --> 0:14:33.920 Moses was at Aaron's side, guiding him to his knees 0:14:33.960 --> 0:14:38.040 before the tabernacle. Despite the crashing weight on his chest, 0:14:38.280 --> 0:14:42.480 Aaron felt the familiar urgency rising within him, the urgency 0:14:42.560 --> 0:14:46.640 to pray, to intercede for the people, even with their 0:14:46.680 --> 0:14:51.480 countless failures, betrayals, and flagrant disrespect for the Lord. He 0:14:51.600 --> 0:14:52.760 knew what he had to do. 0:14:53.400 --> 0:14:57.800 East Lord, Please show me what I show me what 0:14:57.880 --> 0:15:01.200 I can do to atone for the people. Help me 0:15:01.440 --> 0:15:05.880 guide them so that they turn away from Mercin. There 0:15:05.960 --> 0:15:07.760 has to be another way. 0:15:08.400 --> 0:15:10.200 Please show me. 0:15:10.760 --> 0:15:14.160 Over the thunder and the commotion of the desperate people 0:15:14.200 --> 0:15:17.280 behind him, Aaron could have sworn. He felt a sense 0:15:17.280 --> 0:15:21.560 of satisfaction pressed down on him. He felt his lungs open, 0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:26.920 his anxiety lifted, and his breathing became easier. He turned 0:15:26.960 --> 0:15:30.240 to Moses and grasped his arms and searched his eyes. 0:15:31.000 --> 0:15:34.120 Surely the Lord had given him an answer. There had 0:15:34.160 --> 0:15:36.640 to be something they could do to make this right. 0:15:37.600 --> 0:15:41.560 Moses met his gaze and fumbled for speech. As the 0:15:41.640 --> 0:15:46.080 moaning began behind them. They both turned to see and 0:15:46.280 --> 0:15:49.480 gaped in horror, along with the rest of Israel. 0:15:50.040 --> 0:15:51.040 It's another plague. 0:15:51.560 --> 0:15:54.160 Look what do we do now? 0:15:54.840 --> 0:15:58.280 Aaron whipped his head to his brother, panic again mounting 0:15:58.320 --> 0:16:01.760 within him. Moses wore his own eyes away from the 0:16:01.800 --> 0:16:05.880 flailing crowd behind them, people already crumpling and writhing in 0:16:05.920 --> 0:16:10.160 response to the rapid diseases attacking their bodies and desperately 0:16:10.200 --> 0:16:11.200 instructed Aaron. 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:12.440 Aaron, you must hurry. 0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:15.240 Take your firepan, place fire from the altar inside and 0:16:15.280 --> 0:16:16.000 add incense. 0:16:16.560 --> 0:16:19.760 Go into the community and make atonement for them. Go quickly. 0:16:19.880 --> 0:16:22.040 The plague has already begun. The wrath of the Lord 0:16:22.080 --> 0:16:22.880 goes before us. 0:16:23.720 --> 0:16:27.440 Aaron wasted no time. He sprang to his feet, grabbed 0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:30.520 his firepan from the holy place, filled it with live 0:16:30.680 --> 0:16:33.960 coals from the altar of incense, and rushed back into 0:16:34.000 --> 0:16:37.840 the courtyard. This was no ritual or remedy he had 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:41.160 known of, but he trusted in his brother's guidance, and 0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:44.800 he hoped the Lord would honor it. He ran through 0:16:44.840 --> 0:16:48.280 the assembly, where those at the entrance of the tabernacle 0:16:48.400 --> 0:16:53.840 now lay dead, their faces and hands marred by the plague. Ahead, men, 0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:56.680 women and children, Everyone who had come out of their 0:16:56.760 --> 0:17:01.240 tents were convulsing, showing the first signs of death. An 0:17:01.280 --> 0:17:05.080 invisible wave of plague seemed to advance before him, and 0:17:05.160 --> 0:17:08.240 Aaron raced to stay ahead of it. The incense took 0:17:08.280 --> 0:17:11.879 effect as he reached the afflicted, their cries silenced and 0:17:12.000 --> 0:17:16.200 symptoms receding. The smoke from the firepan meant to carry 0:17:16.240 --> 0:17:19.560 prayers in the holy place now became a healing balm 0:17:19.680 --> 0:17:24.360 among the people. Driven by Aaron's frantic prayers, Aaron ran 0:17:24.480 --> 0:17:27.480 until he reached the edge of camp, still haunted by 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:32.280 the agonized faces of Israel. He collapsed, panting as the 0:17:32.320 --> 0:17:35.920 smoke continued to plume out of the firepan. He knew 0:17:36.040 --> 0:17:38.800 he had stood between the living and the dead, and 0:17:38.920 --> 0:17:42.359 he had successfully beat back the relentless wave of death. 0:17:42.920 --> 0:17:51.920 He could only hope it had been enough. Sleep had 0:17:51.960 --> 0:17:55.760 not found Moses, so he had paced and wandered about 0:17:55.840 --> 0:17:59.440 for most the night. His eyes were so intently fixed 0:17:59.480 --> 0:18:01.560 on a wall spot, on one of the walls of 0:18:01.600 --> 0:18:03.879 his tent, that he jumped at the sound of his 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:08.960 own name. Moses relaxed when he realized it was Joshua. 0:18:09.320 --> 0:18:11.760 You told me to call you at dawn. Everyone is 0:18:11.800 --> 0:18:15.040 ready and assembled, the Lord confirms the High Priest. Today 0:18:15.440 --> 0:18:17.359 the staffs of the tribes of Erin have been in 0:18:17.400 --> 0:18:18.760 the most high place of the night. 0:18:19.480 --> 0:18:24.800 Moses nodded, preparing to walk to the tabernacle. After Aaron's 0:18:24.840 --> 0:18:29.040 miraculous act with the incense halting the plague, the Lord 0:18:29.160 --> 0:18:33.720 commanded Moses to set a final test to solidify Aaron's 0:18:33.720 --> 0:18:38.200 appointment in the people's minds. Though Aaron's heroic act had 0:18:38.240 --> 0:18:43.200 spared hundreds of thousands, fourteen thousand, seven hundred had perished, 0:18:43.680 --> 0:18:48.119 leaving a sobering reminder of the stakes. Moses was moved 0:18:48.200 --> 0:18:52.280 by Aaron's compassion and swift obedience. He doubted he could 0:18:52.320 --> 0:18:57.040 have done better himself. Ready at last, Moses left his tent, 0:18:57.440 --> 0:19:01.440 with Joshua falling in step behind him. The elders had 0:19:01.440 --> 0:19:05.960 gathered all of Israel, including the tribal leaders, who waited 0:19:05.960 --> 0:19:09.399 for Moses to enter the Holy Place and make the assessment. 0:19:10.040 --> 0:19:13.520 The day before, each leader had submitted a staff with 0:19:13.600 --> 0:19:17.200 their name on it, including aarons, which Moses had placed 0:19:17.240 --> 0:19:21.240 in the Most Holy Place. The Lord promised that one 0:19:21.400 --> 0:19:25.960 staff would sprout as a divine sign. Moses turned to 0:19:26.040 --> 0:19:27.800 address the expectant crowd. 0:19:28.080 --> 0:19:32.560 We have done as the Lord is instructed. Now we 0:19:32.600 --> 0:19:34.320 will witness his selection. 0:19:34.920 --> 0:19:39.679 Without further ceremony. Moses entered the Most Holy Place and 0:19:39.760 --> 0:19:44.120 beheld the twelve staffs, the most outward symbol of authority 0:19:44.480 --> 0:19:48.040 for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, sitting before 0:19:48.119 --> 0:19:52.000 the Ark of the Covenant. The very last one, Aaron 0:19:52.119 --> 0:19:58.480 staff had sprouted, formed buds and produced almans. Moses was 0:19:58.560 --> 0:20:01.720 careful not to crush any of the delicate little white 0:20:01.720 --> 0:20:05.600 flowers gracing the staff as he held it in his hand. 0:20:06.320 --> 0:20:09.560 He carried it out along with the others into the 0:20:09.640 --> 0:20:11.840 light of day outside the tabernacle. 0:20:13.080 --> 0:20:18.639 Tribal leaders of Israel, come take up your staff. See 0:20:18.640 --> 0:20:20.399 for yourselves who the Lord has chosen. 0:20:21.280 --> 0:20:24.479 Each of the tribal leaders stepped forward and took up 0:20:24.520 --> 0:20:29.679 their staff. Aaron approached with relief and serene acceptance written 0:20:29.680 --> 0:20:33.120 on his face, and took up his staff. The other 0:20:33.320 --> 0:20:37.440 tribal leaders nodded in similar acceptance to Aaron as they 0:20:37.480 --> 0:20:41.639 beheld the blossomed staff. He held his staff above his 0:20:41.760 --> 0:20:46.159 head for all to see, as Moses definitively proclaimed the 0:20:46.240 --> 0:20:49.440 confirmation of the Lord's selection to all of Israel. 0:20:50.280 --> 0:20:54.199 The Lord has confirmed that Aaron, son of Amram, a 0:20:54.280 --> 0:20:57.840 descendant of Levi himself, is the High Priest of Israel. 0:20:58.720 --> 0:21:02.520 Let no one doubt the Lord choice, for he has spoken. 0:21:02.600 --> 0:21:04.720 Through this definitive sign. 0:21:05.640 --> 0:21:10.359 All of Israel watched as Aaron's staff miraculously sprouted and 0:21:10.440 --> 0:21:15.720 bearing ripe almonds, confirmed his role as High priest. Moses 0:21:15.760 --> 0:21:18.680 would place the staff inside the Ark of the Covenant, 0:21:19.119 --> 0:21:22.560 alongside the tablets of the Law, to serve as a 0:21:22.600 --> 0:21:27.199 reminder for generations to come. The Israelites trembled at this 0:21:27.400 --> 0:21:31.680 latest display of divine power, this time one of wonder 0:21:32.119 --> 0:21:38.119 growth and hope, yet or inspiring and humbling. Nonetheless, Moses 0:21:38.280 --> 0:21:42.560 hoped this moment would instill in them a lasting respect 0:21:42.840 --> 0:21:46.600 for the sanctity and reverence of the Tabernacle. 0:21:53.200 --> 0:21:55.360 A story is told about a Jewish village where there 0:21:55.400 --> 0:21:58.240 was one very wealthy man, by far the wealthiest person 0:21:58.240 --> 0:22:01.800 in the entire town. Instead of using his great resources 0:22:01.840 --> 0:22:04.680 to benefit the community, the man just threw his money 0:22:04.680 --> 0:22:09.160 around in search of more power and more honor. Even 0:22:09.160 --> 0:22:11.320 when he gave charity, it was only with the condition 0:22:11.800 --> 0:22:15.400 that he would be publicly honored. Soon he controlled all 0:22:15.400 --> 0:22:18.040 the local institutions, and the rest of the community felt 0:22:18.080 --> 0:22:21.080 that they had no say. One day, the village rabbi 0:22:21.119 --> 0:22:24.080 decided to pay the wealthy man a visit. After entering 0:22:24.119 --> 0:22:26.520 the man's office, the rabbi pointed out the window and asked, 0:22:26.560 --> 0:22:29.800 what do you see? Man replied, I see the world. 0:22:30.440 --> 0:22:32.719 The rabbi then took the man to the mirror and 0:22:32.760 --> 0:22:36.480 asked what do you see? The man replied, I see myself, 0:22:37.119 --> 0:22:40.199 And that said the Rabbi, is what happens when silver 0:22:40.600 --> 0:22:46.160 covers glass. Instead of seeing the world, you only see yourself. 0:22:47.480 --> 0:22:49.920 In this Bible story, we see how wealth can blind 0:22:50.040 --> 0:22:53.280 people and make them self centered, don't we. If we're 0:22:53.320 --> 0:22:55.840 not careful, wealth can lead us to believe we're more 0:22:55.840 --> 0:22:59.800 important or worthy than others, which was certainly true of Korach. 0:23:00.520 --> 0:23:03.679 Korak led a rebellion against Moses. He objected to the 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:06.680 leadership of Moses and to Aaron's position as high priest. 0:23:07.320 --> 0:23:10.320 The fact that it was Moses who led the children 0:23:10.400 --> 0:23:13.160 of Israel out of Egypt, and that it was Moses 0:23:13.560 --> 0:23:17.720 to whom God spoke on Mount Sinai meant nothing to Korah. 0:23:18.160 --> 0:23:21.000 As punishment for his rebellion, God caused the earth to 0:23:21.200 --> 0:23:26.560 open up to swallow Korah and his followers and all 0:23:26.600 --> 0:23:31.520 of their possessions. We read here the earth opened its 0:23:31.560 --> 0:23:34.760 mouth and swallowed them in their households and all those 0:23:34.800 --> 0:23:40.400 associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down 0:23:40.440 --> 0:23:43.959 alive into the realm of the dead, with everything that 0:23:44.000 --> 0:23:47.840 they owned. The earth closed over them, and they perished 0:23:47.840 --> 0:23:52.200 and were gone from the community after saying that all 0:23:52.400 --> 0:23:55.919 their possessions were swallowed with them. The Bible repeated this 0:23:56.119 --> 0:24:01.919 by saying with everything they owned. This petitian isn't random, 0:24:02.400 --> 0:24:05.520 you see. Jewish tradition teaches that Korak was, in fact 0:24:05.920 --> 0:24:10.160 the wealthiest man in Israel. Even today, the Hebrew expression 0:24:10.240 --> 0:24:15.240 to describe an affluent person is someone as rich as Korah. 0:24:15.800 --> 0:24:21.480 But these riches blinded Korah. Kork believed that he, not Moses, 0:24:21.520 --> 0:24:26.560 should be the leader of Israel, all based on his wealth. Well, 0:24:26.680 --> 0:24:29.879 let me say wealth is a blessing, but it's also 0:24:29.960 --> 0:24:33.639 a challenge. The message from this story is that we 0:24:33.680 --> 0:24:39.080 can't let our material blessings blind us. Instead, let's use 0:24:39.119 --> 0:24:41.399 what God has given us to improve the lives of 0:24:41.560 --> 0:24:45.600 others and to bring honor to Him, not to ourselves. 0:24:46.280 --> 0:24:49.639 Korak's wealth gave him a false sense of security and 0:24:49.720 --> 0:24:52.199 caused him to think that he was greater than he 0:24:52.280 --> 0:24:56.800 really was. But Korak's wealth ended up being his greatest enemy. 0:24:57.359 --> 0:25:01.520 It led to his rebellion and his downfall. Jewish tradition 0:25:01.720 --> 0:25:05.560 teaches something else about this story, something I find very interesting. 0:25:06.320 --> 0:25:09.800 It teaches that Korak's sons stood by their father's side 0:25:09.840 --> 0:25:13.440 and his rebellion, and when the ground opened up, they 0:25:13.440 --> 0:25:17.040 were swallowed too. But the Jewish sages taught that the 0:25:17.040 --> 0:25:20.920 sons of Korak repented while they were underground, and then 0:25:21.119 --> 0:25:26.119 miraculously they were rescued. Psalm forty nine is attributed to 0:25:26.160 --> 0:25:30.360 the sons of Korah. Written after this miraculous rescue, they 0:25:30.359 --> 0:25:35.000 wrote these powerful words about wealth. Do not be overawed 0:25:35.119 --> 0:25:37.800 when others grow rich, for they will take nothing with 0:25:37.960 --> 0:25:43.040 them when they die. Their splendor will not descend with them. 0:25:43.160 --> 0:25:46.919 As Korak sons watched their wealthy father ands prominent supporters 0:25:47.000 --> 0:25:50.680 perish in an instant, they must have wondered where all 0:25:50.720 --> 0:25:53.560 their money was now. But all the money in the 0:25:53.560 --> 0:25:57.919 world couldn't even buy back a moment of life, and 0:25:58.000 --> 0:26:02.800 therefore it's useless. In the end, what they saw is 0:26:02.840 --> 0:26:06.240 that possessions are meaningless. Only our good deeds will be 0:26:06.359 --> 0:26:10.439 with us forever. The kindness we perform today have the 0:26:10.560 --> 0:26:15.359 value that will be with us for eternity. As we 0:26:15.440 --> 0:26:17.760 come to the end of this story, you'd think that 0:26:18.080 --> 0:26:22.080 after God's direct intervention and after the earth swallowed Korachhan 0:26:22.200 --> 0:26:25.760 his followers, that the Chosen people would repent. You'd think 0:26:25.760 --> 0:26:29.440 that they would acknowledge Moses and Erin as God's appointed leaders, 0:26:29.920 --> 0:26:34.560 but they didn't. Verse forty one tells us the next day, 0:26:34.560 --> 0:26:39.240