Torah Portion Summary
We read in last week's Torah (Parashat Shelach) that on account of the "sin of the ten spies" the entire generation of Israelites rescued from Egypt was sentenced to die while in the desert. In this week's reading, the hard truth of their condition began to sink in, and the people bemoaned their fate and rebelled further by attempting to overthrow the LORD's designated leadership and return to Egypt. This rebellion was instigated and organized by Moses' cousin Korach, who - along with co-conspirators from the tribe of Reuben - was swiftly judged and put to death, thereby vindicating the Aaronic priesthood and Moses' leadership of Israel.
Haftarh Portion Summary
The Haftarah for Korach likewise concerns a change in leadership for Israel, but transports us to the time when the prophet Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel (a descendant of Kohath) gathered the people of Israel to Gilgal to "renew the kingdom" and there recounted their history as a people, from the time of the patriarchs up to the present time - when Nachash the Ammonite had threatened Israel with bondage. In response to this threat, Israel demanded a king to lead them. Samuel told the people that their present condition was a result of their disobedience to the LORD by worshipping idols and refusing Him as their rightful King.
The LORD allowed the Israelites to have a king, even though this was a tacit rejection of His Kingship, but Samuel warned that having an earthly monarch would not change their condition before the LORD. Only if the people and the new king submit to the LORD would it go well with them; otherwise, they would be punished, just as their ancestors were.
Samuel demonstrated the truth of his words by calling upon the LORD to perform a miracle to show that He would indeed punish the people if they did not follow Him. Even though it was the time of the wheat harvest and rain was rare in the climate of Israel, Samuel called for a thunderstorm to come to show the people that they sinned by asking for a king.
The people then were afraid that they had sinned by asking for a king, but Samuel comforted them with these words: "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself."
B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary
The New Testament reading reinforces the instruction that we are to submit to God's chosen authority. The Apostle Paul emphatically states that Christians are to submit to civil authorities, since these have been established by God. We are further warned that whoever resists these God-established authorities will incur judgment.