Parashat Korach 2022: The Struggle with Envy

Numb 16:1-18:32

Israel was in a fix. The ten spies gave a bad report, influenced the Israelites to turn back, and succeeded (along with the leaders) in inciting a rebellion in the camp. As a result, God decreed they should wander in the wilderness. After a failed attempt to invade the promised land, they were turned back and rebuked by Moses. Israel was frustrated and mourned the loss of their promise. In the absence of faith and true repentance, Israel was left with bitterness, anger, and they were looking for someone to blame. They turned their anger again to Moses, who was confronted by Korach and his company.

It is important to note the complexity of Israel's issues. They struggled with many things. What was needed was for them to walk in obedience. Emerging from this “soup” of emotions was a continual sentiment that something needed to be done. From that sentiment, envy emerged guised as a false savior through a man named Korach. Korach had a problem with envy. It was disguised nobly, as envy usually is, as justice, equality, and accusations of others being prideful. It is often the value lurking behind discontentment and frustration. Korach was probably one of the most vocal critics who was action-oriented and had considerable influence.

Envy comes into play when we want something someone else has like an item, an ability, a position, honor, or respect. The resulting feelings can be discontentment, resentfulness, or bitterness. Envy can become a form of emotional self-hurt and self-loathing because we often measure ourselves by others (2 Cor 10:12-18). As a result conflict, slander, loathing others, hateful conduct, defensiveness, or arrogant boasting swirl around us (1 Tim 6:4). Envy is an emotion, that leads to a decision and that decision ultimately leads us to covetousness. Covetousness is the only member of the envy family that is listed in the Ten Commandments (Ex 20:17) because it is the eventual fruit of a predominantly ungodly emotion (yes, envy has a positive side).

Scripture says that envy makes the bones rot (Prov 14:30) and it is a form of vanity (Eccl 4:4). Envy blinds our eyes to the truth and callouses our conscious. Remember it was for envy that Yeshua was delivered up by the council (Matt 27:18). Envy is an emotion that drives us to wear a mask to cover our weaknesses. Behind that mask, we are empty and parts of our spiritual life are withering. How do we overcome it?

Repent: In 1 Peter 2:1-3 the Apostle Peter (Kefa) states to put it away and long for spiritual milk. What God has for you is uniquely for you and no one else can have it. We must value God's view and purpose for us and stop chasing after what others have. Keep in mind they are also wearing a mask and behind that mask is a history of pain and sorrow unique to where God brought them. It is easy to envy someone's place when you don't know their pain.

Position your heart: Motives can be reactionary and are subject to being refined or better, redefined. We do not have to accept and own the first carnal response that gushed from our carnal being. James 4:2-16 states that envy and lust are connected. We can lay our motives up before God in prayer, i.e. submit them, and redefine them according to a godly intent. James goes on to say (vs 4:11) "do not speak evil of another" and "be a doer of the law".

Empower others: In Phil 2:3 Paul writes that we do nothing from rivalry and conceit but in humility (lowliness of mind) count or esteem others as being more significant. Learning to honor others and esteem them helps transform our view of them and counteract the negativity we feel as a result of envy. This is an important counterbalance to our persisting view of another as being all evil, senseless, or adversarial and helps us to focus on the good. We do not measure our successes or weaknesses against others. Our spiritual walk is not a competition. It is about God's people being in their God-ordained place. We can be generous with our compliments, edification, and encouragement. It will never detract from what God called us to be and if it builds the Body of Messiah, we are strengthened as well.

Pursue love: In 1 Cor 13:4-7 Paul writes that love does not envy or boast. That is so simple, yet so hard to do. We have to learn to love well. We need to be sensitive to those carnal things that do not reflect God's love and be quick to reign in our emotions in the face of offense and violation. This is the fight we all have to wage. Envy poisons every fruit of the spirit we try to produce because spiritual fruit is grown as we walk in the love of God and minister that love to others. The love of God does not seek to be exclusive and isolated as is the tendency with an envious-spirited person. When we operate out of the love of God we can value our own place and can encourage others without feeling diminished. We can also have godly ambition that is healthy.

Pick your Shepherd: It is in our tendency to compare, that we sacrifice our peace and contentment. Our lives and all that we were meant to be is not predicated on the activities, abilities, place, or possessions of others. They do not shepherd us, provide for us, and neither can they detract from us. Ps 23:1-6 states that the Lord is our Shepherd, “I shall not want”. God empowers us, sustains us, and gives us his love. What he called us to be was not a mistake. It was a God-ordained purpose that perfectly fits in the place God called us to stand. Love your purpose today and stand in faith.

Rav Calev Apostolic Messianic International-Gulf Coast