Travelling is stressful – especially with children. There are instructions to go over (and over!), rules to follow, schedules to coordinate. Mom and Dad are trying to pack the suitcases, load the car. “Did we take the boarding passes, the cell phone charger?” “Are the doors locked?” “Where is Junior’s allergy medicine?”
And the kids have their own issues. “These snacks are yucky!” “We wanna go to Disneyland like last year.” “Who made her the boss of me?”
Words are heated. Tempers flare. Someone’s gonna get a time out – or worse!
Welcome to this week’s Torah Portion – B’haalot’cha. God (through Moses) is preparing the children of Israel for their journey to the Promised Land. The Portion begins with God’s instructions for mounting the lamps in the Menorah and moves on to directions for purifying the Levites for service in the Mishkan and some adjustments to the Passover observance. God reminds the children of Israel that the Divine Cloud’s ascent and descent over the Mishkan will signal when they are to camp and when they are to continue on.
God commands the crafting of silver trumpets whose blasts alert the people that it is time to move forward, to assemble, to attack, to observe festivals, or to perform sacrifices.
God commands the tribal groups to set out in an organized manner.
Are the children of Israel pleased and grateful that God is carefully readying them for their momentous journey? No way! “The people took to complaining bitterly before the Eternal. The Eternal heard and was incensed: a fire of the Eternal broke out against them, ravaging the outskirts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1)
Moses prays to God and quenches the fire. Still, the Israelites have the chutzpah to weep, recalling the meat, fish, and veggies in Egypt, when all they have to sustain them in the wilderness is God’s miracle food – manna!
Understandably, “…The Eternal was very angry, and Moses was distressed,” (Numbers 11:10)*
To facilitate the departure, God assigns seventy “elders” to assist Moses and promises the whining children of Israel that they’ll receive so much meat (quail) that it will be coming out of their noses! (Numbers 11:19-20) – plus a plague.
Everything ok now?
No! A youth tattles that “Eldad and Medad are acting the prophet in the camp!” (Numbers 11:27)*
Then, Miriam and Aaron start in. They complain to God about Moses that “…He married a Cushite woman!” (Numbers 12:1)*. They fuss about Moses getting God’s special attention.
“They said, ‘Has the Eternal spoken only through Moses? Has [God] not spoken through us as well?’ The Eternal heard it.” (Numbers 12:2)*
God points out Moses’ unique relationship with God and punishes Miriam by giving her leprosy.
From sacred lamps, a Divine cloud, and silver trumpets to fire, a sickening glut of quail, plague, and leprosy, B’haalot’cha is just the beginning of the harrowing journey!
In B’haalot’cha, God emphatically teaches the children of Israel and us, their descendents, to be ever mindful of God’s commandments, to be grateful for God’s miracles. We are warned to stop complaining and to make our journey a positive one – or else!
So – fasten those seatbelts! Eyes on the road! Remember, God grants us only one chance to make the trip!
Are we there yet? Not even close!
Shabbat Shalom – Rest and Renew.
*All quotes are from The Torah: A Modern Commentary edited by W. Gunther Plaut
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