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Parshat Eikev continues Moshe’s heartfelt farewell address to the people. In addition to reminding them of specific events which occurred along their journey, Moshe also reiterates their obligation to keep the Torah, as it says, “And if you will obey these rules and observe them carefully, the Lord your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers” (Bamidbar 7:12).
As part of upholding the principles, values and mandates of the Torah, Moshe tells the people that they will come to possess the Land, destroy their enemies and overcome every obstacle. However, in the midst of explaining all of the good that will come from holding fast to the Torah, Moshe declares, “Should you say to yourselves, ‘These nations are more numerous than we; how can we dispossess them?’ You need have no fear of them. You have but to bear in mind what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all the Egyptians” (Ibid., 7:17-18). At first glance, these words seem rather odd. After all, if conquering the Land is the fulfillment of one of God’s promises to the people based upon their faithfulness, then why, in the midst of conquering, would the people suddenly doubt their ability, and by extension, God's ability to do so because of the size of their enemies? Where did their faith go?
According to Rav Moshe Feinstein, the answer is as follows: “In truth, God did not have to command the Jewish people not be afraid of those nations since they saw all of God’s miracles and wonders. Thus, they all knew that from God’s perspective, there is no difference between a formidable and a meager enemy. Rather, these words were meant for those who believed in God’s powers intellectually, but nevertheless, when the moment of the physical conquest came, could not feel that faith to help make them strong. And so, they would say to themselves, ‘How can we dispossess them?’ This would cause fear to seep into their souls. Therefore, God needed to command them not to be afraid of them, specifically at the time of the conquest, for at that moment, they needed to recall the miracles that God did to Pharaoh, and via that act of remembrance, the people would feel, not only know, but feel their faith in God, and would not be afraid” (Sefer Kol Ram, Parshat Eikev 4:396).
It is one thing to know something intellectually, but it is quite another to experience something emotionally or physically. While faith in God is something we must all know, our parsha is teaching us that it is something we must all feel as well, and it is the feeling of our faith which ultimately gives us strength and courage in moments of fear and doubt, enabling us to move forward. By remembering God’s miracles in Egypt, the people were able to not only recall God’s might and power, but what’s more, God’s abiding love, and it is the feeling of that love which provided them the most courage in their hour of need.
This Shabbat, let us reflect upon the challenges we face – challenges which test our faith and cause us fear. Yet, at the same time, let us also reflect upon the love that God has for each one of us, and how that love will lift up us, give us strength in our weariness, hope in our despair and clarity in our confusion. Faith always conquers fear, but we must not only know that, we must also feel that when it counts most.
Shabbat Shalom!
- Rabbi Dan
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