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Korach incites a mutiny challenging Moshe’sleadership and the granting of the kehunah (priesthood) to Aaron. He is accompanied by Moshe’s inveterate foes,Dasan and Aviram. Joining them are 250 distinguished members of the community, who offer the sacrosanctketores (incense) to prove their worthiness for the priesthood. Theearth opens up and swallows the mutineers, and afire consumes the ketores-offerers.
A subsequent plague is stopped by Aaron’s offering ofketores. Aaron’s staff miraculously blossoms and brings forthalmonds, to prove that his designation as high priest is divinely ordained.
Hashem commands that a terumah (“uplifting”) from each crop of grain, wine and oil, as
well as all firstborn sheep and cattle, and other specifiedgifts, be given to the kohanim .
"And Korach, the son of Yitzhor, the son of K'hos, the son of Levi, took..." (Bamidbar 16:1)
Rashi explains that the reason Korach led his rebellion against Moshe was because he was jealous of an honour that his relative received over him.
Envy can be a killer. When one focuses on what others have, whether it is something that he wants but doesn't have, or a talent he wants but his friend has, it can lead to depression and despair.
Korach fell because of this trait. He not only failed to receive what he chased after, but he lost his life as well.
Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditichev commented that a truly righteous person's main goal in all that he does is to give pleasure to the Almighty. To such a person there is no difference if he or another righteous person causes that pleasure.
But if a person's main focus is on his personal reward, he wants to do everything himself. Therefore our verse states that Korach “took”. He wanted to take for himself and therefore felt resentment about the attainments of others.
When your focus is on you, your family, and your relationship with Hashem, what other people have is of no consequence to you. If you have proper emunah that everything that you have and that happens to you comes from Hashem, then it makes no difference to you what other people have, whether material objects or talent. You have the tools that Hashem personally gave you. Use them as He wants you to, and you will bring pleasure to Him and yourself as well.
Have a great Shabbos!
