“hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies …
envy … revelries … those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”
(Gal 5:19-21, NKJV)
In the last teaching we examined how the spirit of Korah mainly centres around a need of the self to be acknowledged in spiritual matters, and to share in or control spiritual authority. It is fed by accusations and supported by a feeling of discontent for which the authority figure is blamed, and results in a ganging up against the established order.
Considering that names in Scripture often points to identity, it is interesting to note that when the story of Korah and his gang is related in Num 16, they are introduced within their genealogies – “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” (verse 1). Let us examine the identities of these individuals to gather some clues about their characters.
Korah’s name means ‘bald’, thus without hair. In Scripture hair is a symbol of glory and covering (1 Cor 11:15). Interestingly enough, most references to hair in the Old Testament relates to the fact that it was possible to discern someone’s leprous state or resulting uncleanness by looking at hair (13 references in Lev 13). To be without hair was considered shameful (Isa 3:24) and often a sign of defeat (Esra 9:3), a sign of having been branded, a sign of loss of authority (Isa 7:20), a sign of a broken covenant (Jer 9:26), or a sign of judgement (Jer 49:32). All these things became true in Korah’s life on account of the division he instigated. Ironically the names of his forefathers point to an entirely different set of symbolic truths – Jishar means “shining (fresh) oil”, Kehat means “to ally oneself, to be allied”, and Levi means “attached/ joined to”! The calling of Korah’s clan was obviously to reconcile people with one another, literally a “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18; Ps 133:1-2).
From this we garner an important principle – your calling can in some instances become so perverted by Satan that its inverse often becomes your greatest obstacle. In other words that which God has called you for can often become your greatest trap. A family that has been called to restore the glory of believers may be so wounded that their lives are ones of perpetual shame, thus preventing them from functioning in their God-ordained callings.
Three Biblical figures that were all called to restore the glory of believers eventually ended up doing the opposite, because of their rebellion and waywardness – Korah, Samson and Absalom, on account of their hair, or lack thereof, died.
Also note that Num 16 specifies three times (verses 2, 17 and 35) that two hundred and fifty men died in the rebellion. In Hebrew numerical value this number means “to be exalted”, “perverseness, a rebel” and “to cleave open”!
- Sela: Pray about your family clan’s calling.
- Read: 1 Kings 22 Jer 6; 1 Cor 5
- Memorise: 1 Kings 22:22-23
