The Torah Portion, Ekev, begins with Moses teaching the children of Israel that if they listen to, observe, and do what God has commanded, they will be God’s partners in the covenant which God made with their ancestors. If they behave according to God’s laws, God will bless the children of Israel with fertility, prosperity, and strength in overcoming the idolatrous peoples whom they’ll encounter as they settle Canaan.
Moses reminds the children of Israel of God’s miracles on their behalf and how God sustained and “tested” them in their forty year journey through the wilderness.
(Deuteronomy 8:2)
Moses warns the children of Israel not to become arrogant in their prosperity, but to remember that God is the source of their well-being.
“…and you’ll say in your heart:’My power and my hand’s strength made this wealth for me.’ Then you shall remember YHWH, your God, because He is the one who gave you power to make wealth so as to uphold His covenant that He swore to your fathers- as it is this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)*
Moses firmly points out the times when the children of Israel have disobeyed God’s commandments and declares in exasperation, “You have been rebelling toward YHWH from the day I knew you.” (Deuteronomy: 9:24)* In describing the many times when they have failed to follow God’s laws, Moses characterizes the children of Israel as “rebellious,” “hard-necked,” “corrupt,” sinful, distrustful, wicked, and prone to the influence of idol-worshipping neighbors.
Yet,despite this acknowledgement of their faults, Moses provides clear instructions for how the children of Israel are to settle and thrive in the land which God has promised them:
“And now, Israel, what is YHWH, your God, asking from you except to fear YHWH, your God, to go in all His ways, and to love Him and to serve YHWH, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to observe YHWH’s commandments and his laws that I command you today to be good for you.” (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)*
Does Moses succeed in teaching and convincing the children of Israel to improve their behavior, to follow all that God has commanded, so that they will posses and prosper in the Promised Land?
Look around! America is a great country in many ways. Modern Israel is proud and thriving. But, can we, the descendents of the children of Israel, honestly say we’ve reached the Promised Land? Or – are we still struggling to fulfill our role in the covenant, to follow God’s commandments, and to leave the wilderness behind?
How close are we to the Promised Land? We still stand with the children of Israel
waiting to cross over. We are still learning from Moses, from Torah to listen, to observe, and to do.
We’re not there yet!
*From Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman
On a personal note – This past Shabbat I had the pleasure of studying Torah with a close friend. While we have been friends for 50 years, this was the first time on our respective Jewish journeys that Torah study was a naturally engaging part of our conversation.
Where Torah study is concerned, there are no missed opportunities, only opportunities waiting for the right moment.
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