Today we will share a Bitachon thought related to Parashat Pinhas. One of my favorite lessons from Parashat Pinhas is that we don't realize how Hashem is always setting up situations that are in our best interests. We'll never understand them because, as it says, Hashem's thoughts are way above our thoughts. When we learn Torah, however, we get a glimpse into what's going on behind the scenes. As we know, Zimri was a Jewish man who was sinning with a Gentile woman. Pinhas did a zealous act and killed him, and God said, I'm going to reward him with the Briti Shalom , which is understood by many to mean that Pinhas became a kohen at that time. The question is, Wasn’t Pinhas already a kohen ? His father Elazar was a kohen . The Gemara explains that Pinhas was already born when God had Aharon anointed as a kohen, along with Elazar and Itamar. So although Pinhas was born, he was underage, so he wasn't anointed, and therefore, he wasn't a kohen. His other cousins, who were born later, were born in the kehuna . So here is Pinhas- his last name is Cohen , but he is not a kohl. It was a sad situation, and although he seemingly didn’t do anything wrong, it went on for many, many years- his relatives were serving in the Mishan and he was not. Then, when he killed Zimri, he became a kohen. He also became Eliyahu HaNavi and lives forever. But look what would've happened if he would have been anointed initially- if he was old enough, or if he was born into the Kenuna, and then would've killed Zimri ? The law is that a kohen that kills someone, that has blood on his fingers, even though it's rightfully so, is disqualified from serving in the Bet Hamikdash. The Bet Hamikdash is there to bring peace, and therefore, someone who killed someone cannot serve. (Similarly, David Hamelech couldn't build the Bet Hamikdash, it says, because his hands were bloody from war, although they were wars he was supposed to be fighting.) Hashem set it all up in such a wonderful way, that Pinhas was not a kohen, and then became a kohen through killing Zimri. So he was not disqualified because he wasn't yet a kohen when he killed him. So not only does he become a kohen, but he becomes a Kohen Gadol, eventually becomes Eliyahu HaNavi and lives forever. Look how this seemingly distressing situation was really setting up Pinhas for eternity. Unbelievable. We never know how Hashem is setting things up. Another interesting story is about Aharon HaKohen, Moshe Rabbenu’s older brother. Moshe did not want to be become the Navi/prophet because he didn’t want to hurt his older brother's feelings. Hashem finally convinced him not to worry, that Aharon wouldn’t feel bad. “ He will see and he will be happy in his heart.” The Gemara, in Masechet Shabbat, says that because Aharon was happy in his heart, he merited to have the Urim V’Tumim on his heart. He merited that specific ornament, which was on his chest, on his heart, because his heart was happy for his brother. The Derashot HaRan says, Look at this unbelievable Middah K’Neged Middah. Because he was Mevater to his brother, and was happy for his brother's success, Aharon got rewarded with the Urim V’Tumim . What was his brother's success? He became a Navi/prophet. Moshe Rabbenu’s children did not continue as prophets. But Aharon Hakohen forever gets the Urim V’Tumim , and it’s a prophetic utensil. You would look at the letters and the letters would pop up and give answers to questions, as a messenger of God. So no, Aharon did not become a one-time Navi, but he inherited, for his family forever, the Urim V’Tumim, which is a prophecy of sorts. So, he gave up for his brother but he didn't lose out. Because he was happy for his brother and Mevater , that happiness created the Urim V’Tumim , which was equal to prophecy, but more and longer. So we see that Hashem sets up systems for us that we don't understand, only to give us opportunities for greatness. It's nice to hear the stories, but it's much hard live it when it's in your own life. B’Ezrat Hashem, we will take advantage of the situations given to us, to reach our full potential. Have a wonderful day and a Shabbat Shalom.