Congregation Magen Abraham – Long Branch
Rebbe Dovid Lelover zt'l said: Had Korach known that he can serve Hashem from behind the oven [where the simple Yidden used to sit] and his avodah will be as precious as the avodah of the kohen gadol, he wouldn't have started a machlokes."
Korach wanted to serve Hashem in the best possible way, which is why he wanted to be the kohen gadol. But he didn't realize that everyone could serve Hashem in his own unique way. There is no reason to be jealous of others – just do the avodah that Hashem expects from you, and it will be as precious to Hashem as the service of the kohen gadol.
The Gemara (Pesachim 50.) tells that Rav Yosef, the son of Reb Yehoshua Ben Levi, was niftar and then returned to life. His father asked him what he saw in heaven. He replied, "I saw an upside-down world. Those on top here were at the bottom there, and vice versa."
His father corrected him, עולם ברור ראית, "You saw a true world." Rashi explains that in this world, people honor wealth, but in heaven, honor is accorded to those who study Torah.
The Mabit explains that Rav Yosef was referring to the way we perceive the servants of Hashem in this world. There are ovdei Hashem who are very respected in this world but less so in Olam HaBa and visa-versa – people who we think are mediocre or less in their spiritual practices but are highly honored in heaven. This is because Hashem measures each person according to his abilities and the level of mesirus nefesh he has in serving Hashem.
This was Korach's error. He thought he must have the most prestigious position in this world in order to earn the highest place in Gan Eden, but that wasn’t so. With the position, challenges, and services that Hashem arranges for each individual in this world, he can attain the highest place in Gan Eden.
The Arugos HaBosem (Chayei Sarah) quotes the Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 11.) "Everything in creation was created according to their agreement and consent." This means that the earth also agreed to be created as it was. Indeed, it is called ארץ, from the word , רצה want, because the earth wanted to do Hashem's will and was willing to be created this way, although it seems that it would be so much loftier if it were made like the heavens and not a coarse gashmiyus earth. This is because heaven and earth are indeed the same, because they both serve Hashem as Hashem wants from them.
Therefore, the Arugas HaBosem explains, no one should complain, "Why can't I be like him? If I had a sharper mind and lived under better circumstances, I would also be a genius in Torah!" Don't say that, because Hashem created you the way you are because this is the only way you can reach perfection. It states (Tehillim 101:6), עיני בנאמני ארץ. The Arugos HaBosem explains that Hashem's eyes are with those who have emunah like the earth and are prepared to do Hashem's will, even when they think there are more prestigious deeds to do for Hashem.
Korach was on a high spiritual level. As a Levi, Korach was bestowed with the honor of carrying the aron. Arizal taught that in the era of techiyas hameisim, Korach will be the kohen gadol. The Chidushei HaRim zt'l says that if it weren't for this machlokes, Korach would have become the levi gadol — an extremely great honor, which so far, no one has ever received.
But he wanted more. He wanted to serve Hashem in the most perfect way. And his error was that he failed to understand that he had the potential to be the greatest tzaddik in his position, with the portion Hashem gave him. The Arugas HaBosem explains that the earth swallowed Korach because it was the earth that understood that one should only want and focus on the portion Hashem set out for him.
