As Heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“And the ground shall open her mouth and swallow them up.” (16:30)

The question arises: Did Korach not know that Moshe had been granted the power to split apart the Sea of Suf with his staff? Did he forget the miraculous signs which Moshe had demonstrated when he came to the Elders (Shemot 4:30)? Why did he persist in his rebelliousness in the face of this overwhelming disaster that threatened him? The answer is that Korach had by now lost his Free Will.

“It may happen that a man sins a great sin or many sins so that the True Judge decides that the retribution upon the sinner, for the sins which he did out of his own will and his own mind, is that he be prevented from repenting and that he should not be permitted to turn back from his wickedness.” (RMBM, Teshuba 6:3)

If Korach could have cried out, “Moshe is true! And his teaching is true!,” he could have rescued his life and his Afterlife. But it was now too late. In a vision of a Sage many centuries afterward, Korach is seen in Gehinnom as he cries out in despair, “Moshe is true and his teaching is true!” (Baba Batra 74A) For centuries, Korach attempts to rectify his sad error by uttering the words that could have saved him had he spoken them while still possessing his Free Will.

Quoted from “Journey Into Greatness” By Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

Shabbat Shalom

Related posts:

1. Parshat Korach As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L “And Moshe said:...
2. Parshat Korach As Heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L “And he shall...
3. Parshat Korach As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L “And Moshe was...
4. Parshat Korach As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L “And Moshe was...
5. Parshat Pinhas As Heard from Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L “And you will...