HaShem shall bless His people with peace!"

(Psalms 29:11)
Tammuz 27, 5784/August 2, 2024

This week's double Torah reading, Matot-Masei, concludes the book of Numbers and brings Israel's forty year desert sojourn to a close. It began with miracles that broke the will of Pharaoh and brought about the exodus of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. Miracles accompanied the newly freed slaves all the way from the Sea of Reeds to Mount Sinai, where the children of Israel received Torah and were transformed from Hebrew slaves to the free and independent nation of Israel, one nation under G-d, forever. Israel built a home for their G-d, a sanctuary in which HaShem's presence could dwell amongst His people.

To be sure, Israel also had its lows, moments of despair, almost from the start. Learning to trust G-d and maintaining your faith is a constant effort, bolstered and strengthened, not by blind or passive reliance on the grace of G-d, but by action, by adherence to G-d's will, and day and night participation in helping HaShem's plans come to fruition. When Israel in the wilderness was most active, most involved in working with and for HaShem, when she was building the Tabernacle, organizing her encampments or fighting HaShem's wars, she was united and content. When Israel grew idle she sank into internecine conflict, uncalled for complaining and idolatry. But despite Israel's many descents, G-d forgave her and the people picked themselves up and carried on.

Slowly, slowly, as the forty years progressed, HaShem lessened His direct intervention into the physical upkeep of the people, weaning the newborn-to-infant-to-toddler nation and teaching it to stand on its own and fend for itself, always, of course, under HaShem's divine protection. With the death of Miriam, the miraculous supply of water that was her gift to Israel vanished. Aharon's demise led to the evaporation of the clouds of glory that constantly shielded Israel from the scorching desert sun and more. And ultimately, with the death of Moshe, Israel's daily dietary supplement of morning manna, bread literally from heaven, from G-d's own kitchen, ceased to appear on the desert floor.

Israel also had to develop into a fully functional fighting force. G-d led Israel across the Sea of Reeds, drowning the pursuing Egyptian army behind them. But by their next battle, against hate filled Amalek, Israel was compelled to begin to place her complete trust in HaShem, while taking up the fight on her own. Learning how to fight, learning how to create an army of twelve tribal divisions, learning how to advance and how to coordinate the movement between the twelve divisions, and learning how to take the battle to the enemy when all calls for peace fail, were also part of G-d's teaching to Israel. Israel is not to rely on miracles to fight its battles or press its cause, but miracles do happen, hidden or otherwise, when Israel is at its finest, united and determined to pursue G-d's will.

By the time we read the final chapters of the book of Numbers, the nation of Israel are no longer children. In fact, the slaves that fled Egypt have all perished in the desert, and a new generation, one that never knew the sting of the lash, has arrived at adulthood. In the concluding chapters of Numbers we read of many wars that Israel must wage. The closer she gets to the promised land the greater is the resistance of the surrounding nations. Moshe, as commander in chief, with Yehoshua as his Chief of Staff and Pinchas as the anointed kohen who, with silver trumpets and the Ark of the Covenant, representing HaShem's very presence within the military encampment, lead Israel into battle after battle, with one goal in mind - victory - and with one simple instruction from HaShem - do not be afraid!

While reading of Israel's years in the wilderness we often focus on her downfalls. Oftentimes they seem so uncalled for, so unjustified and sometimes just outright mystifying. But the one common thread which ties together all of Israel's mishaps is their humanity. Children of G-d, yes, but frail, fallible humans nevertheless. It is Israel's partnership, her covenant with HaShem, which grants her strength and guarantees her role, so long as Israel stays true to HaShem, as the eternal people.

We may find it frustrating or disappointing that Israel's journey from slavery to freedom, from a covenant with HaShem and an inheritance in the land of Israel promised by Hashem, which began with breathtaking, nature bending miracles, should conclude with something so mundane and primitive as warfare. Could G-d not have simply lifted up and placed Israel within the land west of the Jordan, and be done with it? Alas, this is not how G-d works. We, His children, need to earn His promise, using the tools necessary to meet the challenges that nations who fear not HaShem, confront us with.

Israel's modern history in many ways is a reprise of the journey recorded in Torah. From slavery and genocide, embattled Israel survived the holocaust and fought a bitter war to establish her independence in the land of Israel. Blood, sweat and tears, and many, many miracles, have transformed Israel's reality from exile to return, from slavery to freedom. But just as we are witnessing in the book of Numbers, even as Israel advances forward, G-dless nations rise up against her. Today Israel is fighting for her very survival a war being waged on seven fronts, against a wicked hate filled enemy sworn to Israel's annihilation. Just as the Israelites in the wilderness extended their hand in peace to her neighbors, Israel today has no greater desire than to live in peace amongst her fellow nations. But when war comes to Israel's door, Israel fights.

G-d promised Israel an eternal inheritance within the land, but He didn't promise her a rose garden. Sometimes the thorns greatly outnumber the roses. Israel, girded with her faith in HaShem, fights on fearlessly. Israel, in the coming hours or days, is anticipating yet another unprecedented onslaught by her enemies. Israel has a world class army, replete with the most advanced weaponry on earth. But so much more importantly, Israel is armed with the one weapon no man and no nation can take away: Unshakable faith in HaShem! "HaShem shall grant strength to His people; HaShem shall bless His people with peace!" (Psalms 29:11)