Parashas Chukas, 3rd Aliyah

In this week's portion, we have an interesting story concerning Moshe rabeinu and the children of Israel while in wilderness of Tsin. Numbers 20:7-8 says,

"And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, 'Take the staff and gather the assembly, you and Aaron, your brother, and you shall speak to the rock before their eyes and it will give its water and you shall bring forth to them water from the rock and provide drink for the assembly and the livestock." (translation mine)

So, Moshe did as Hashem said and gathered the people and said, (verse 10b-11)

"'Listen now, rebels, from this rock shall we bring forth water for you?' And Moshe raised his hand and struck the rock with his staff two times and great waters came forth and the assembly and the livestock drank."

At this point, I imagine that Moshe and Aharon were feeling good and well accomplished. The children of Israel were thirsty and now, thank G-d, they have water. They did the right thing...... or so it would seem. Let's read on. (verse 12)

"And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, 'because you did not have faith in Me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, you shall not bring this assembly to the land that I have given to them.'"

I believe that, often, we do the same thing. We strongly desire people to obtain the 'living water' that we have. However, sometimes we go about it in a manner that is not in accordance with the will of G-d. Remember, Hashem desired that the people of Israel would have the water from the rock, but only through the means which He provided. Instead, Moshe struck the rock.
The Rambam believes that Moshe's sin in the matter was that he became angry when G-d was not. He comes to this conclusion from Moshe's words in verse ten, "listen now, rebels." The text never implies that G-d was angry. So why did he call them "rebels?" Perhaps his zeal got the better of him and, through Moshe trying to sanctify G-d's name in his own strength, he actually desecrated it (I am speaking only of this instance).
Striking, often, is a reaction of anger. Speaking is an action of love. When the convert came to Shammai and asked to be taught Torah in a short time, Shammai struck him with a staff. When he came to Hillel and asked the same thing, Hillel answered in words of love. Love won him over.
When we speak to people concerning Torah and Yeshua, let us use the means which Hashem has provided and speak words of love. I believe that if we are able to do this, the the "Rock of our salvation" will pour out His "living water" upon Israel and the nations.

Be well,

Mesillas Yesharim and the Master

In, or around, 1738, the Ramchal zt"l (Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto) wrote a book entitled "Mesillas Yesharim" (The Path of the Just). The purpose of this book is to lay out systematically the traits needed in order to reach the highest levels of avodas Hashem (the service of G-d). In his first chapter he explains what the sages meant when they said, "This World resembles a corridor before the World to Come" (Pirkei Avos 4:16). He says that man was created, ultimately, to revel in the Divine Presence and the only true place to do this is in the World to Come. The "path" that G-d has given us to get to that point are His commandments. His idea is that our place in this World determines our place in the World to Come. To the degree that we pursue G-d here and now, we will have Him there and then. Likewise, to the degree that we distance ourselves from Him here, we will be far from Him there, G-d forbid.
I believe that our Master (may He be exalted) had a similar view point when He said,

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." -Mark 8:34-35

The point of Yeshua and the Ramchal is that we are not to be concerned with our physical place in this World. We should not concern ourselves with the building of our own miniture kingdoms, but rather our purpose in this life is to exalt G-d and glorify His Kingship. We prepare while we are here. We work here. We struggle here. It may be difficult now, but we will rest. The sages often make the comparison of the World to Come being like the Sabbath. The Talmud says, "He who toils of erev Shabbos (Friday) will eat on erev Shabbos (Avodah Zarah 3a). The idea is that if you do not work to prepare for the Sabbath, you will not be blessed to have a Sabbath. If we don't cook and clean on Friday, we won't eat or relax and, thus, no rest. However, if we push and work hard during the week, in an attempt to be prepared for the coming day of rest, how much greater will that very rest be?
Therefore, let us push ourselves to the limit, "study to show ourselves approved unto G-d a workman," walk in the Commandments of G-d, and strive to glorify His name among the nations. Let's work harder than we, in and of ourselves, should be able to, because we have the promise of a beautiful Sabbath rest.

May the z'chus (merit) of our Master be upon you,

Be well