We need people in our lives who empower us and remind us to be grateful.
God’s first words to the Israelites in the Book of Deuteronomy, as relayed by Moses, are the following:
ה׳ אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֵ֖ינוּ בְּחֹרֵ֣ב לֵאמֹ֑ר רַב־לָכֶ֥ם שֶׁ֖בֶת בָּהָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃
Our God ה׳ spoke to us at Horev, saying: “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”
Where do we begin?
As Moses begins to retell the story of the people, as he does throughout this book, he begins in a peculiar place.
He does not describe the pinnacle moment in the narrative that we might expect. He ignored when the Israelites became a people, the place where they received Torah, and dealt with the golden calf. Moses could have begun with: here’s where you came from, and here’s how we got here.
Instead, he highlights that the Israelites are not yet done with their journey. The mountain is just a stop along the way.
This moment teaches us two core things:
It is good to be grateful at transitions.
Rashi, an 11th-century French rabbi, tells us that God was reminding the people that they have received many benefits from being at the mountain:
God has given you much distinction and reward for your having dwelt in this mount: You made the Tabernacle, the candlestick and the other sacred articles, you received the Torah, you appointed a Sanhedrin for yourselves, captains over thousands and captains over hundreds.
Especially as we approach Tisha B’av this weekend and the season of reflection, it is valuable to take stock of what we have. Articulating something is different than knowing something in your heart.
When we express something, it becomes real in a new way.
Rashi and God are encouraging the people to stop, reflect, and evaluate how much they have accomplished in a short time and how it has impacted them.
So too, with us, we can take these opportunities to identify how things in our lives have changed.
Believe that you can do it.
Hizkuni, a 13th-century French rabbi, suggests that this is encouragement for the people. In other words, God is telling the people, “You’re ready to go!”
God commenced by drawing their attention with words of cheer.
We’re just human beings, and life can be overwhelming. Having someone encourage us can make every bit of a difference.
And in this case, God and Moses are doing the encouraging!
Hizkuni reminds us that we can all benefit from a cheerleader. Perhaps there is someone in your life who might need that extra oomph.
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