Mriy!

1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” 4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the Lord will show who is His,  and who is holy, and will bring him near to Him. The one whom He chooses He will bring near to Him. ~ Numbers 16:1-5

Mriy!

That’s the common thread running through this week’s parashah (Torah portion reading cycle). 

Mriy is the Hebrew word for ‘rebellion’.  Mriy means bitterness, disobedience, provocation, and rebellion.

It’s the exact opposite of honey that tastes sweet, pleasant and goes down smoothly.

Rebellion ALWAYS leads to some kind of division.  It divides the shalom known and realized in the UNITY of the Ruach. It grieves the Ruach of Elohim (Spirit of God).

Sowing discord among the brethren is one of the seven abominations that ADONAI hates, according to Proverbs 6:

16 There are six things that ADONAI hates,

seven that are an abomination to Him: 

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood, 

18 a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that make haste to run to evil, 

19 a false witness who breathes out lies,

and one who sows discord among brothers.

In 1 Samuel 15:23, the prophet Samuel filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, equates rebellion with the sin of divination/witchcraft!

witchcraft/rebellion: a way of attaining the desires of (your) evil, unbelieving heart through manipulation because you do not believe God has your best interests at heart.  Therefore, you must take up any means necessary to achieve the desires of your heart as you do not believe God is either able, willing, or both.

         1. Is this the means you use to get what you (think you) desire?  

2. Do you manipulate your spouse?  Your co-workers?  Your children?  

3. Has your heart been guilty of mriy in any form?

4. Have you asked ADONAI to examine your heart for any impure motives you may not be aware of? 

The wisdom of Scripture reveals to us that as we ‘Delight ourselves in ADONAI, He gives us the desire of our (transformed) hearts’! (Psalm 37:4)

To delight ourselves in ADONAI is to be one with ADONAI in perfect shalom and harmony according to His preparations.

ADONAI hates rebellion because it leads to discord.  And discord leads to division which is the opposite of yachad (unity).  When there is no yachad, there is no shalom.  ADONAI is One.  HE is perfect echad.  HE is never divided.  HE is perfect shalom.  Even His name is YHWH-SHALOM.  Shalom is what our Mashiach died to give to us.  

Scripture tells us to 'be at shalom as much as it depends upon us' (Romans 12:18) and that ‘a harvest of righteousness is raised in shalom by those who make shalom’ (James 3:18); and also that we are to ‘be eager to maintain the unity of the Ruach (Spirit) in the bond of shalom’ (Ephesians 4:3).

This is the kind of heavenly shalom that Yeshua said HE was giving to His disciples...

"What I am leaving with you is shalom -- I am giving you My shalom. I don't give the way the world gives. Don't let yourselves be upset or frightened.” ~ John 14:27

Go here for more about Korach in B'rit Chadashah (New Testament Reading with Torah)