A Thought on Parshas Devarim
A Thought on Parshas Devarim
"...lo ti'ra'um..." "...do not fear them..." (3:22)
"...re'eh noson HaShem...es ha'aretz..."
"..., see, HaShem has given you the land..." (1:21)
Moshe assures the nation that just as they have survived a sojourn in the wilderness so shall they thrive in the Promised Land.
Both the Rosh and the Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 7:8) demonstrate how many signs were given us that HaShem was with us over the years in the desert. The wilderness was a place of snakes and scorpions (8:15) and marauding enemies yet nothing interfered with our being able to adhere to the Word of HaShem. This was a clear sign that the sole intention and plan in our survival was that we enter the land and settle it, with His protection.
We were bidden not to fear and to take courage. Just as we had faced and endured, and outlived, one threat after another, so too did HaShem wish for us to learn from those realities: all that would occur was and is an element of Divine planning and hashgocha.
Later in the parsha (2:26), Moshe reminds us of our passing through Midbar Kedemos, the Desert of Kedemos. This word can be traced to the root kedem and to the root kodem. At first we might assume that it means the former, and it is a name roughly translated as "the Eastern Desert." The Rosh, however, links the name to the latter word, kodem, which means earlier or prior.
He explains: the desert is a place of dry terrain and parched topography. This desert, however, was transformed by the Word of HaShem into a place where water flowed from rocks! Hence, it was a "Prior Desert" or "the place formerly known as desert." HaShem can make a desolate spot habitable. He does so for the sake of His nation and as a sign of His watchful, protective hashgocha.
The first lesson for us is that we can detect His loving Presence when bad things that could happen (adversarial probabilities) don't happen. The second lesson for us in that we should also be able to sense His Presence when unexpected good things (water in the dry desert) do happen.
Wishing you a safe and good Shabbos Chazon. D. Fox
"...lo ti'ra'um..." "...do not fear them..." (3:22)
"...re'eh noson HaShem...es ha'aretz..."
"..., see, HaShem has given you the land..." (1:21)
Moshe assures the nation that just as they have survived a sojourn in the wilderness so shall they thrive in the Promised Land.
Both the Rosh and the Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 7:8) demonstrate how many signs were given us that HaShem was with us over the years in the desert. The wilderness was a place of snakes and scorpions (8:15) and marauding enemies yet nothing interfered with our being able to adhere to the Word of HaShem. This was a clear sign that the sole intention and plan in our survival was that we enter the land and settle it, with His protection.
We were bidden not to fear and to take courage. Just as we had faced and endured, and outlived, one threat after another, so too did HaShem wish for us to learn from those realities: all that would occur was and is an element of Divine planning and hashgocha.
Later in the parsha (2:26), Moshe reminds us of our passing through Midbar Kedemos, the Desert of Kedemos. This word can be traced to the root kedem and to the root kodem. At first we might assume that it means the former, and it is a name roughly translated as "the Eastern Desert." The Rosh, however, links the name to the latter word, kodem, which means earlier or prior.
He explains: the desert is a place of dry terrain and parched topography. This desert, however, was transformed by the Word of HaShem into a place where water flowed from rocks! Hence, it was a "Prior Desert" or "the place formerly known as desert." HaShem can make a desolate spot habitable. He does so for the sake of His nation and as a sign of His watchful, protective hashgocha.
The first lesson for us is that we can detect His loving Presence when bad things that could happen (adversarial probabilities) don't happen. The second lesson for us in that we should also be able to sense His Presence when unexpected good things (water in the dry desert) do happen.
Wishing you a safe and good Shabbos Chazon. D. Fox
posted by Rabbi Dr. Fox at 6:24 PM
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