Torah Commentary Archives

Ekev (Because)

Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Matthew 4:1-11

Luke 4:1-13

Jacob (James) 5:7-11


Not There Yet


How well I remember the days of traveling with children. Packing the car, making sure everyone was buckled in, backing out of the driveway and beginning the cross country drive to see parents. Within a few miles the backseat mantra of typical statements began with “I'm bored”, “I'm hungry”, “I have to go potty.” There was that one statement though that just seemed to get under my skin more than others, “Are we there yet?” This was normally uttered just about the time I saw the first of the over 800 mile markers on I-10 going through Texas!


Truth is, it's no surprise the wonderful little products of marriage were impatient regarding the destination. They knew that as soon as we got to Grandma's house there would be such treats as Krispy Kreme doughnut breakfasts, lunch with Krystal hamburgers and some kind of shopping spree waiting. In order to enjoy the blessings of the destination though, they had to endure the hardships of the journey. Those hardships included such things as being bound by seat belts and no candy when we stopped for gas. Only Dad can have a sugar high while driving!


What is the point? It's called blessings. We read the words of this Torah portion and consider at least at some level we are striving to be obedient to His instructions, but do not feel we are walking in the blessings promised. What is the problem? The answer is as close as the view out of your window. Go ahead, take a moment and look out your window. What do you see? More important, where do you see? For me I see the beautiful sights of the North Carolina mountains. I see trees, squirrels, birds and an occasional deer. I am grateful for the view out my window, but my gratefulness is tempered by a filter called “Beauty in Exile.”


I am all too aware if Father was to give all His promised blessings while in exile it could become a curse. Full blessings in exile can produce satisfaction and comfort which has the ability to turn exile into captivity taking our focus off our destination. Allow me to illustrate with the above cross country trip. With the expansion of Krispy Kreme came delivery of glazed doughnuts to gas stations. Those doughnuts looked the same and tasted the same, but were cold and usually a bit stale. I could have given in and purchased enough doughnuts somewhere in Texas for us to all have our fill. How would that action affect our visit to Grandma's? Would it not detract from the blessed memory of waking up, after a super long trip, to hot, fresh, mouth-watering glazed doughnuts? Would they have been as good or as appreciated? No. Would there have been as much gratefulness for Grandma getting up early, driving to Krispy Kreme, waiting for the hot doughnut sign and bringing them home? No.


Look at Deuteronomy 8:10. “So you “will” eat, be satisfied and bless HaShem.” Bless Him for what? For the journey which brought you to the Land, for the blessings in the Land, for the destination and inheritance of His Land? Absolutely!


See, even a meal along the journey as we are asking “Are we there yet?” should cause a yearning for our destination. The “withheld” blessings of the stale doughnuts at the gas station could make us long for the trip to be over. But what ought to be our motivation for the blessings? Is life in His Kingdom about me or about Him? It should be about Him, which is something to practice on this side, but I digress. Look at verse 18. “He is giving you the power to get wealth.” Is this a promise in exile or in the Land? If you miss the answer here I am sorry, but I cannot help you as your exile has turned to captivity. It is in the Land, but why? It is in order to confirm His Covenant.


Our being set up as a standard in His Kingdom, a people of wealth and honor, will even then not be about us, but about His promises being brought forth as true. Covenantal promises to Adam, Noah, Abraham, David and others. We will be the evidence that He is not a man that He should lie!


Do we expect poverty on the journey? No, but if told to settle for a small bag of chips and a bottle of water, rejoice for hot doughnuts are just over the horizon!


Note: If reading this on Shabbat, my apologies. Please wait till after Shabbat is over to head over to Krispy Kreme. The “Hot Doughnut” sign still works after sundown. Moderation please!