Parashat Ekev (Because of)
D’varim (Deuteronomy) 7:12-11:25
Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14-51:3

As I was reading this week’s Parashat Ekev, I found myself reflecting on how God’s justice often challenges our human sense of what is right and fair. In Deuteronomy 7:12-21, we encounter a powerful message from God that, at first glance, may seem severe but reveals deep spiritual truths about His holiness and the preservation of Israel's faith.

Here is the passage in full:

Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you His covenant and His grace which He swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples; there will be no male or female barren among you or among your cattle. The LORD will remove from you all sickness; and He will not put on you any of the harmful diseases of Egypt which you have known, but He will lay them on all who hate you. You shall consume all the peoples whom the LORD your God will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?’ you shall not be afraid of them; you shall well remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt: the great trials which your eyes saw, and the signs and the wonders and the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. So shall the LORD your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. Moreover, the LORD your God will send the hornet against them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you perish. You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.
Deuteronomy 7:12-21

This passage begins with a promise of blessings for Israel if they faithfully follow God’s commands. The blessings are comprehensive, covering all aspects of life: fertility, agricultural abundance, health, and protection from enemies. God’s love and commitment to Israel are evident in these promises, reflecting His desire for their well-being and prosperity in the land He gave to their forefathers.

However, the passage also contains a directive that may seem harsh: Israel is commanded to “consume all the peoples whom the LORD your God will deliver to you; your eye shall not pity them, nor shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.” This command to utterly destroy the nations they would conquer is not about cruelty or hatred. Instead, it is a measure to protect Israel from the spiritual dangers posed by these nations and their false gods.

God knew that the greatest threat to Israel was not the physical might of these nations, but the spiritual snare of idolatry. The nations Israel was to conquer were steeped in practices that could easily lead Israel astray. Idolatry, with its allure and pervasiveness, was a direct threat to the covenant relationship between God and His people. Therefore, the command to destroy these nations was a way to safeguard Israel's faith and maintain their devotion to the one true God.

As we consider the implications of this passage, several key lessons emerge. First, we see the importance of not relying solely on what we perceive with our eyes. God warns Israel not to be intimidated by the size or strength of the nations they would face. Human perception can be deceptive, leading to fear and doubt. Instead, God calls His people to trust in His power and remember the great acts He performed in the past, such as the deliverance from Egypt. The miracles and signs that Israel witnessed were to serve as reminders of God’s mighty hand and outstretched arm, capable of overcoming any obstacle.

This brings us to another crucial point: the danger of doubting God’s promises when we focus too much on what we see. The Israelites might have been tempted to think, “These nations are greater than us; how can we overcome them?” Such thoughts could lead to a dangerous forgetfulness of all that God had done for them. But God urges them to remember His past faithfulness as a foundation for their present and future trust in Him.

The passage also emphasizes the importance of fearing God more than fearing man. God explicitly tells Israel not to dread the nations, despite how powerful they might appear. The true danger was not the physical threat posed by these nations but the spiritual threat of Israel forgetting God's power and presence. When fear takes hold, it can cause us to lose sight of God’s greatness, leading to disobedience and weakening of faith.

This message is particularly relevant today as we face significant challenges and uncertainties, especially in Israel. The ongoing conflict with Hamas, Iran, and their proxies has brought about a time of immense stress and fear. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and to question where God is in the midst of such turmoil. We might be tempted to focus on the immediate dangers and hardships, forgetting the many ways God has been faithful in the past.

But God’s word offers us reassurance. Isaiah 49:14-15 speaks directly to the fear that perhaps God has abandoned us:

But Zion said, ‘The LORD has abandoned me, and the LORD has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.

These verses remind us that God’s love and commitment to His people are unshakeable. Even in the darkest times, He has not forgotten us and never will.

The nations may seem powerful, and it might feel like they have the upper hand. But Isaiah 49:26 provides a powerful reminder of God’s ultimate control:

I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, and they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; and humanity will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

This is a clear declaration that God will defend His people, and His justice will prevail.

As we face difficult realities today, it is vital to remember that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the same God who is with us now. His power has not diminished, and His promises remain as true as ever. The testimonies of God’s faithfulness in the past are not just stories; they are living reminders that He will continue to be faithful today and tomorrow.

In these challenging times, keeping our eyes on God is a choice. While it can be tough in the midst of crisis, let us remember His past acts of deliverance and trust that He is still at work. The God who led Israel through the wilderness and into the Promised Land is the same God who watches over us today. He is our protector, our strength, and our hope.

May we find peace in this truth, trusting in God’s unchanging nature and His eternal promises as we navigate the present and look with hope to the future.

Shabbat Shalom,
Moran