בס”ד
Korach’s rebellion against Moses poses a profound question: How could an entire assembly, including righteous and esteemed individuals, challenge Moses’s prophetic authority, especially after G-d had explicitly promised Moses: “They will also believe in you forever” (Exodus 19:9)?
This wasn’t a simple disagreement. The 250 men who sought to offer incense were leaders, righteous individuals. Furthermore, their eagerness to offer incense is not understood, as they knew that Nadav and Avihu had perished by doing so (Leviticus 10:1-2) and that unauthorized offering of incense was a capital offense!
Korach and his company did not deny Moses’s prophecy or G-d’s word. Their error lay in believing they could alter Divine commandments and establish a new order. They knew G-d had transferred the priesthood from the firstborns to Aaron and his descendants. This led them to mistakenly believe they, too, could bring about a change and perhaps acquire the priesthood for themselves.
What truly motivated them was a yearning for closeness to G-d, a desire to serve Him in the holiest capacity. This aspiration, in itself, is highly positive—so much so that even Moses himself acknowledged, “I, too, would want that!” They wished for the High Priesthood. However, they failed to understand that the priesthood, by Divine decree, was not transferable by human initiative. One cannot change the borders that G-d Himself set in the creation. The longing for closeness to G-d is a sacred drive. On one hand, we should awake a deep spiritual yearning within our hearts—a desire to be close to G-d and to serve Him. This aspiration is inherently positive and elevates the human spirit.
On the other hand, it is crucial to never challenge or attempt to alter the Divine order and the commandments G-d has established for us. For Noahides, this means diligently learning and observing the Seven Universal Noahide Laws as given by G-d through Moses. These laws are our direct path to serving Him and building a righteous world. It is forbidden to add to or subtract from these Seven Laws, this includes not to create a new religion.
Yearning for G-d, when channeled through adherence to His will, grants us access to holiness. Our spiritual elevation comes not from challenging His designated order, but from humble acceptance and dedicated practice of the commandments relevant to us. Through this path, we fulfill our unique purpose and draw closer to the Creator, contributing to hasten the final Redemption for all mankind.
Source: Likutei Sichos Vol. 18 page 187. Exodus 19:9.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein
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