Sefer Devarim begins with Moshe’s
recounting of the journey of Bnei Yisrael after they received the Torah. It is
interesting, however, that in the first perek of his recounting Moshe
deliberates on two points: the creation of the system of judges and the reaction
of the people during the reports of the scouts. The question, of course, is why
these two items are so specifically detailed, and the answer might very well be
because they demonstrate the contentious nature of Bnei Yisrael.
Sefer Devarim is understood to
be both a review of the people’s history and a prophecy of all that will come
to Israel. Integral to that future would be both our structured community order
and, unfortunately, our penchant for questioning Hashem and getting ourselves
in trouble. This latter trait, alas, has seen us, time and again, in the
cross-hairs of Hashem’s ire, at a point where Hashem finds it necessary to
bring forth all of the dire warnings we have been given in order to remind us
of the role we accepted at Sinai.
When you look at Devarim as
prophecy, the following pasukim stand out as having an interesting opportunity
for interpretation:
“Yet for all that, you have no
faith in the Hashem your God, who goes before you on your journeys—to scout the
place where you are to encamp—in fire by night and in cloud by day, in order to
guide you on the route you are to follow. Upon hearing your loud complaint, Hashem
became angry and vowed: Not one of those involved, this evil generation, shall
see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers—" (Devarim 1:32-35).
Moshe is speaking of a very
specific incident and yet perhaps it could be understood as more. The place we
are to encamp is our ultimate destination, the time when we achieve the status
of a goy Kadosh and a mamleches kohanim. To reach that role, we must be able to
truly recognize our dynamic relationship with Hashem. Sadly, however, like our ancestors,
we often lack faith in Hashem and the future because we fail to recognize the
fire by night or the cloud in the day; we fail to understand Hashem’s constant
guidance as referenced by the fire and the cloud.
The fire in the night represents
– perhaps - those times that might be labeled difficult - in truth, tragic. Fire
is hot and dangerous. Fire burns away the fringes. But think of a forest fire,
a necessary act of nature so that the forest can grow back stronger and
fresher. When we “have no faith in Hashem,” we fail to see that these
challenges serve a purpose. It allows us to grow stronger.
The cloud by day represents the
good times, the times of success – the times when the Jewish people flourish
and thrive – the day. Why then, you might ask, “a cloud”? In the good times,
Hashem is also obscured. He hides behind a cloud so that we do not see Him
directly; and He does so with good purpose. Hashem needs Bnei Yisrael to follow
His path with absolute bechira, free will, and so He hides Himself away. But
we, in our stubborn, human existence, fail to see beyond the cloud.
Thus it is that Moshe’s words in
Devarim 1:32-33 describe the future – our present – in which the Jewish people
(and yes this means both frum people and not frum people) lack in emuna. That
lack, that inability to hold on to our faith in God (although, thank God, there
are many exceptions) leads to the delay in the ultimate redemption, and thus reflecting
Devarim 1:35: “Not one of those involved, this evil generation, shall see the
good land that I swore to give to your fathers—”
It’s hard, if you pay attention
to what is going on in the world, not to find correlations. Hashem gave us the
opportunity to return to the Promised Land, but now, as our enemies grow bolder
– as lies permeate the news with the conviction of fact – there are Jews
themselves that are digging a hole for our people. We have, Baruch Hashem, many
Kalevs and Yehoshuas, many people who understand the incredible nature of Eretz
Yisrael and the relationship of Bnei Yisrael with Hashem. But there are far too
many around the world who believe the lies about themselves – and it is both
terrifying and depressing to watch because all of our history is already laid
out for us if we look in the Torah.
Right now, we seem to be
approaching “night” and the fire seems to be getting hotter for Jews around the
world. if there is one way to turn back the tidal wave of anti-Semitism, it is
right here: Emuna. Belief – beyond belief. Not only must we embrace and
strengthen our emunah, but we must use our emuna to fulfill the Torah.
(Please note, it is clear in the
Torah that the pillar of fire and the cloud were matters of Divine protection.
This Dar Torah is just looking at them metaphorically in light of the world
today.)
MAZAL TOV! Parshas Devarim is
the anniversary of these Divrei Torah, the first of which “Eleh Devarim”, was
published in 5778 (2018). Here is the
link – https://cthedawn.blogspot.com/2018/07/these-are-words.html
- and it is terribly sad how similar the message is – and to think how far that
date was from October 7th and the world we live in now!
May Hashem Moshiach bmherya
biyamenu. Have a beautiful Shabbas, which is a taste of the world to come.
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