The Art of Separation
This is the next post on the Sons of Korah. One of the biggest questions is why the Lord would allow the earth to swallow the separation of the sons of Korah alive. The perpetual life (Rev 9:6, Matt 16:28, John 21:21-2) sounds awful. It is the presence in life without God and knowing full well that is one’s state. The answer to the riddle, as far as I have unpacked it, lies in the fall of man. This is why Cain killed his brother. Abel received more adoration than Cain so Cain killed Abel. The issue is one needs to raise the other. Sheep fertilize the field while the field feeds the sheep.
The Lesson of Life
Life is a lesson and the Lord created the serpent as much as He did mankind. As mentioned in the first post, this was to cause the fall. It is also why Jesus tore down the temple so it could be rebuilt in 3 days. Korah fell in the same way as Adam, Cain, and Judas. It was all by deceit and treachery, but that was on the part of Christ. What is not said, however, is Christ must have been the one causing the fall on both sides of the turn. It means the Old Testament must have seen the Holy Spirit as the source of these falls or someone else would be culpable. That fits when we follow the line on each case.
The old covenant showed a ruler who was tightly correlated with God to the point he was the only one God spoke directly with (Nu 12:8, Ex 33:11). This means the Lord had a hand in the work of Moses, which manifested in Korah’s punishment. If I understand this correctly, however, it means the Separation of the Sons of Korah may represent the divided body of Christ. No righteous person would have knowingly defied the orders. It also allows the fallen to be forgiven. The final piece is it allows Jesus to be the Omega as much as He is the Alpha.
The Mirror
This is reversed during Jesus’ ministry period as the old covenant builds up the fallen while making the righteous dirty. The new covenant makes the fallen clean while the old covenant righteous is made dirty. Everyone is equally unredeemable without grace. The creation context may suggest the offense is not an overt or awful offense. It was probably someone who wanted a child and that child made a mistake because he or she did not know all of the rules. God would give forgiveness but the accusers would say that was not part of the rules. God might turn and say, fine – you do it your way. Accordingly, God entered creation under the same punishment of exile and death desired by the accusers. Christ brings the process to fruition as everyone becomes equal in stature in the end (Rev 21:17, Luke 6:38, Lev 27:2).
This had to happen or creation would not have learned its lesson. Jesus told us he would be empty inside in the next stage.
“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.” Jn 14:30–31.
Darkness Promised
Jesus says he will be quiet and vacant. This sounds like the Separation of the Sons of Korah to me, bearing the weight of his own cross as the body of Christ (Luke 14:27). It is perfect if Jesus was the cause of the fall for both covenants. This explains why and how both sides can be reconciled as both halves are cleaned while not being culpable or accountable. Jesus carries all burdens and sins.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!” John 21:18–19.
Jesus told His disciples there would be darkness. He even described it as great darkness, which implies it was a good thing. I suppose the lesson I get from this is we will not recognize good if we live in the light at all times. We must have a season of darkness to know what and who we are missing. It will be glorious when we get that sobriety of spirit back. I, however, speak for myself.
Note on Interpretation
As with everything else I post, this is my interpretation based on what I feel God has opened my eyes to see. I have no monopoly on truth and continue to learn. One thing is for certain, nobody else does either, except the one who can wield the whole word of God. James 3:1-2 says all teachers are false teachers except that one. I do not think the time has come since the seas are not yet calm.
