Our Torah this week (i.e., Korach) begins, “And Korah took” (וַיִּקַּח קרַח), which immediately suggests something about the character of the man. Though he was wealthy, esteemed among his tribe, and honored with the task of caring for the Ark of the Covenant, none of this was enough for Korah… There was an insatiable hunger, a “black hole” in his soul, an unrelenting envy, that drove him to madness and self-destruction. Korah was imprisoned by his own jealousy, arrogance, and spite. When he compared himself to Moses and Aaron, he felt overlooked, deprived, and therefore he justified in his desire to be honored. As an archetypal figure, Korach warns us against being swallowed up with egotistical envy or seeking the praises of men (Matt. 23:2-7).
In the Kingdom of heaven, worldly success is sheer delusion. There are open and hidden riches. There is a pearl of great price, a treasure “hidden in a field.” These riches are regarded as “fool’s gold” to those who love this world and trust only in the realm of the phenomenal, but to those who trust in the LORD, they represent all that the heart needs…
Hebrew Lesson:
“And when the other disciples heard [that James and John sought prominence], they were indignant” (Mark 10:41). But why were they aggrieved except that they sought glory for themselves? The faults we see in others usually mirror our own… If your brother offends you, test your own heart to see where you share his fault… Or do you seek reward for your service to God alone? Do you request a “chief seat” at His table? Any “reward” in the truest sense must include empathy and service for the benefit of others. Heavenly rewards are never gained through self-promotion but through losing yourself in the father’s business (Luke 17:10). We don’t make old wine from new… What good is any “reward,” after all, if it were gained at the expense of your brother or sister? Is such praiseworthy? We can only look past ourselves and see others when we understand that we are in as much need of God’s mercy as they are… It is natural enough to want a blessing, but check your heart: the Apostle Paul was willing to himself be accursed for the sake of the well-being and blessing of his own brothers (Rom. 9:3).
The son of Zoma said: “Who is wise? He who learns from all people, as it is said: ‘From all those who taught me I gained understanding’ (Psalm 119:99). Who is strong? He who conquers his evil inclination, as it is said: ‘Better is one slow to anger than a strong man, and one who rules over his spirit than a conqueror of a city’ (Prov. 16:32). Who is rich? He who is satisfied with his lot, as it is said: ‘When you eat the toil of your hands you are fortunate and it is good for you’ (Psalm 128:2). ‘You are fortunate’ – in this world; ‘and it is good for you’ – in the World to Come. Who is honored? He who honors others, as it is said: ‘For those who honor Me will I honor, and those who scorn Me will be degraded'” (1 Sam. 2:30). – Avot 4:1
For more on this topic, see the article, “The Madness of Korah.“