This weeks Parasha is in the book of Numbers also called Bamidbar, and is called Korach which means 'Bald'.
Last weeks Parasha Review
Who can tell me what last weeks Parasha was called? Shelach. What does it mean? Send Thou. What was last weeks parasha about? God sent spies into the promised land to bring back a report. Why does God send spies into the promised land? We believe he was trying to test them to see if they would trust him or not. What did they tell him when they returned? 10 of the spies said the land was bad and their were giants, but Kalev and Yahushua son of Nun said it was a good land and they could take it. What is murmering? Complaining, the people started complaining about God and he punished them for it. Why do we need to trust in God? Because on our own we are lost and can't succeed, but with him nothing he wants us to do is impossible.
The Story of this Weeks Parasha:(teacher tells story of this weeks parasha touching each of these points)
- Korach + 250 renown men gather together against Moshe and Aharon
- They all bring an offering in censers to see who God will choose
- The Earth opens up and swallows the rebels
- Children of Israel Murmer again
- 14,700 Die for murmering by plague
- 12 princes commanded to bring a rod with their name on it to see who is God's chosen
- Aharon's Rod buds and shows he is the chosen one
- Aharon established to be over tabernacle and the children must not draw near on their own
- Haftarah Israel wants a king over them to their punishment
This Weeks Parasha Questions:
Who knows what the word appointed means? It means to place, set, or put something in it's place. It's part of organizing. You put everything where it goes. God is the great organizer. When he created the heavens and Earth, he put every thing where it was supposed to be. In this weeks Parasha Korach was appointed to a posotion God wanted him to be, but he wanted a position that God gave to someone else. He didn't like what God gave to him and this made God angry and they were punished.
Activity - Shape Sorter
You can use a simple childs shape sorter and empty a few blocks and have each kid put the blocks in the right spot. Then the teacher will demonstrate that God made everything and everybody different and has a special spot for each person just like he made our family. We must be thankful and try and do our best to do what God wants us to do. This may not be the same thing for everybody but we must all be happy with what God has given us. Then the teacher can show what happens when you try and put a piece that has a spot somewhere else. A circle can never be a square and if it tries it will not be successful. This is what Korach was trying to do instead of being happy about where God put him. This is a form of rebellion.
Who knows what grateful means? It means being thankful for what you have or what someone has given you. The children of Israel murmered and were not grateful for all that God had done for them. Remember when they cried out and he saved them out of Egypt, but then they complained, remember how God made Manna come from heaven to feed them when they had no food, and they complained, remember how they complained and God made water come out of the rock to give them drink. They kept complaining and God kept punishing them, because God was taking care of their every need and they weren't grateful.
Why did God have the 12 princes bring their rods with their name on it? God wanted to show that not everyone was the same, and He wanted to show them who he put or appointed to be priests. The same thing happened in the haftarah portion when Israel wanted a king over them. They weren't happy in the place they were with God ruling over them and the priests helping. They were punished for it. Each of these things showed God doesn't like when you don't go where he wants you. Just like last week where the children didn't want to go where God wanted them to be. We all must remember the shape sorter and be happy with what God gives us and go where god wants us and do what God wants us to do. Shalom!
Review main points
Ask Questions again