Good Intentions
Mere positive thoughts do not suffice to completely eradicate all the negative consequences of one’s evil behavior. As powerful as a sincere thought and of good intentions are, there is no substitute for acting in accordance with those thoughts. Particularly, when our actions are performed in public, good intentions and thoughts of remorse will not suffice to remove the danger of others being influenced by these actions.
Korach’s Sons
When the Torah lists the names of the various families of the twelve tribes, in this week’s parsha, it recounts in detail the tragic episode of Korach and his rebellion against Moses. The Torah relates that although the earth swallowed up Korach and all his followers, “The sons of Korach did not die.”
Rashi explains that indeed, the sons of Korach were originally co-conspirators in the rebellion. However, during the rebellion, they had second thoughts, “They had thoughts of repentance.” As a result they were spared the fate that awaited their father Korach.
Rashi then proceeds to explain how they were saved: “A high place materialized for them in Gehinom (the pit that swallowed them) and they resided there.”
An obvious question has been raised. If they were spared why did they get swallowed up with their father Korach, only to be spared in the last moments?
Furthermore, the fact that they were save after having been swallowed up by the earth, was an incredible miracle. Why did G-d have to resort to this miracle when they could have been spared the entire ordeal of being swallowed up with their father Korach?
The Way to Gehinom is Paved with Good Intentions.
In anticipation of this question, Rashi is careful to state that they had “thoughts” of repentance. In other words they did not really do anything to demonstrate their disavowal of the rebellion; all they did was to recognize in their own minds, the error of their ways.
Had they translated their good thoughts into action and made a demonstrative move away from Korach’s rebellion, G-d would have spared them the distress and the obvious terror they must have experienced as they were swallowed up by the earth. Because they did not publicly show their repudiation of their father’s rebellion, they could not have been spared outright because no one knew that they repented. Had they been spared many would have thought that the rebellion had some merit.
Nevertheless, the fact that they entertained sincere thoughts of contrition entitled them to the miracle of being spared in the end.
Two Lessons
Two parallel lessons emerge from Rashi’s approach to this matter:
First, no matter how far a person may have strayed from the path of righteousness, it is never too late to alter one’s course. Furthermore, even if one merely expressed thoughts of remorse, it will be accepted by G-d and will prevent a disaster. Moreover, the sincere thoughts of Teshuvah are so powerful that, if necessary, G-d will even perform a miracle to save the penitent from disaster.
Second, and paradoxically, the lesson from this episode is how mere positive thoughts do not suffice to completely eradicate all the negative consequences of one’s evil behavior. As powerful as a sincere thought and of good intentions are, there is no substitute for acting in accordance with those thoughts. Particularly, when our actions are performed in public, good intentions and thoughts of remorse will not suffice to remove the danger of others being influenced by these actions.
Moshiach and Teshuvah
Maimonides writes that the Messianic Age will be ushered in by way of Teshuvah. Certainly, the Jewish people as a whole have accumulated enough merit to deserve to be redeemed. It may take just one act, or even one sincere thought of Teshuvah to tip the scales in favor of bringing about a miraculous change.
If Korach’s sons, who were involved in a criminal rebellion, were saved miraculously because they merely entertained a thought of Teshuvah, how much more so, we the Jewish nation, are entitled to a miracle that will bring an end to our painful exile, and the ushering in an age of true peace, with the coming of Moshiach. Our role in bringing this about could be one more positive act, or even one more sincere thought.
From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Pinchas by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
