In this week's Parsha some of the Jews started complaining. Hashem became angry and sent a fire that killed part of Klal Yisrael. The Jews cried to Moshe, Moshe davened to Hashem and the fire sunk in its place. The fire never went back up to Heaven from where it came it just sunk in its place.
The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni Bamidbar 10) explains that Moshe said to Klal Yisrael if you keep to your Teshuva then the fire will remain sunk, if not, remember the fire is still here. The Midrash adds that the fire didn't disappear but went into the Mishkan and that was the fire that burned the Korbonos.
The question is how is it possible that a fire that was sent down as a punishment to kill suddenly change and be used for the korbonos that were so holy and sacrificed to bring pleasure to Hashem?
There are two sorts of sinners who in return receive two sorts of punishments. The Ari Hakadosh writes there people who are hot blooded and instead of using their enthusiasm for Avodas Hashem they use it for forbidden pleasures which they do with excitement and enthusiasm. Those are punished in Olam Haba with the fire of Gehinom. The fire of gehinom represents the fire of their bad enthusiasm.
There are people who are lazy and can't be bothered to do Mitzvos they have to do. They are punished in a Gehinom of snow. The cold and snow represents their coldness in Avodas Hashem.
What was the sin of the Jews who complained in this week's Parsha? From the punishment we can work out what was their sin. They were punished with fire. That means that they weren't complaining because they were lazy or couldn't be bothered to do their Avoda. It means that they were excited and enthusiastic about doing things but the wrong things. They didn't have a desire to serve Hashem but they did have a burning desire to materialistic and forbidden pleasures. That is why they were punished with fire.
Redirecting the Fire
When they realized their mistake and did Teshuva, Hashem taught them a very important message. Don't extinguish the fire completely. Direct the fire to the right things. Instead of having a burning desire to do wrong things, direct that enthusiasm and use it correctly for Avodas Hashem.
How did Hashem relay that message across to the Jews? By taking that fire that punished them and directed it to the Mishkan for the Korbonos. That was a message to Klal Yisrael. It is a good thing to have a burning desire and enthusiasm if it is for the right things. And if it is for the wrong thing, try and divert the internal fire in the right direction. Try and find pleasure and enjoyment in Davening, Torah study, chessed and other Mitzvos so you will be able to direct your energy into Avodas Hashem.
The Chazon Ish's Approach
A Yeshiva boy came to speak to the Chazon Ish. He told him that he has a friend in Yeshiva who is busy spending his time doing other things outside Yeshiva that were contradictory to being a Yeshiva student and were a danger for the boy's spiritual future. The boy asked the Chazon Ish if he would be willing to speak to the boy to convince him to stop his present behavior and activities and instead spend his time in the Beis Hamedrash.
The Chazon Ish told him to bring along his friend. The boy went back to Yeshiva and convinced his friend to come with him to visit the Chazon Ish and receive his blessing.
The two Yeshiva boys came to see the Chazon Ish. The Chazon Ish asked the second boy which Gemara they were learning in Yeshiva. The boy barely knew what to answer. The Chazon ish wasn't fazed. He then went and had an enthralling Torah discussion with the boys going through the Gemara, Rashi and Tosfos. He then asked them a brilliant question on the explanation of the Tosfos. The first boy who knew the Gemara well tried to give an answer but was unsuccessful.
The Chazon Ish smiled and said, "its ok. Go back to Yeshiva study the Gemara again, ask your Rosh Yeshiva and Maggid Shiur. I am looking forward to see you next week with an answer." The Chazon Ish wished them Hatzlacha. The boys left and went back to Yeshiva.
The first boy ran straight back to the Chazon Ish and asked him, "Rebbe I didn't bring my friend so the Rav should test him, I brought so the Rav should save him and stop him from his wrong behavior. Why didn't the Rav mention anything?"
The Chazon Ish gave the boy a remarkable reply. "One cannot take something away from someone without giving something else instead. If the boy derives pleasure from things outside Yeshiva and I tell him he has to stop, even if he listens, he will become depressed. That isn't the correct approach. I first have to open his eyes to see the pleasures and enjoyment of Torah study and then I can tell him to stop what he is doing. That is why I asked him such a brilliant question to give him a taste in the sweetness of Torah."
That was the message of the fire in this week's Parsha. The fire doesn't need to be extinguished. One has to take the fire of Gehinom and redirect it to become the fire of the Korbonos, of our Avodas Hashem and our personal sacrifices to Hashem.
