Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 22 Tamuz, 5783

Today we continue with our double portion, but interestingly – today’s portion is just a single reading out of the Torah.  It is the sixth reading from Mattot.

What is interesting here is the passage ends on a cliffhanger.  The tribes of Reuben and Gad do NOT want to enter the promised land.  They wanted to settle in the wilderness.

Moses saw this as cowardice. But that’s not what it was, because the tribes of Reuben and Gad were willing to fight until Israel was safe within the promised land.  They just preferred the wilderness.

How often do we judge others on the journey? How often do we judge OURSELVES on this journey?

Maybe we are aware of where things are headed in our life; but we would rather stay. We want to be where we are – we look around and feel good about the land.  But we are worried others will judge us for wanting to stay and not move forward.

As someone who does work helping people grow spiritually; I can tell you I struggle with this both internally and externally.

A good friend challenged me yesterday – they took a risk to tell me that sometimes they want to have a conversation with me where I am just listening and not pushing back.  Just empathizing.  “Sometimes I need my butt kicked….but sometimes I just need a friend.”

I received these words – and they relate here.  We don’t always have to do the work to go towards spiritual freedom and liberation – the Torah talks about being satisfied with where we are.  AND. At the same time – being wiling to fight for others when the time comes.

This is the branch of Mattot I think we are meant to get today.  What are your thoughts?

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 29 Tamuz, 5782

So let’s dig in!

Where we are at today is starting out the third portion of this week. We have just finished navigating the destruction of Midian. We are getting set to enter into the promised land.

The Torah tells us that Reuben and Gad’s descendants had a lot of livestock. They saw lands outside of the promised land as being a very suitable place to settle. They went to Moses and Eleazar, and asked if they could have the land just conquered and not cross the Jordan into the promised land.

Now. What an interesting request. As we consider our journey from slavery to freedom, it is interesting that some of our brothers would choose not to become fully free; they would prefer to settle in the wilderness. They see it as ”better.”

And Moses’ response was interesting. He misinterpreted the request. He thought it was about cowardice. Moses was concerned about the impact that decision would have on everyone else. What if others want to stay outside the promised land? Moses projected the spies story onto the descendants of Rueben and Gad.

Moses’ reaction was kind of like mine. “Why would you NOT want to be free? Is it because you don’t want to do the work? is it because you are afraid? Why? EVERYONE should want to be free!”

Moses brought up God’s anger with the spies and told the descendants of Rueben and Gad they were wicked! Wow. Judge much, Moses? (The answer is yes which is why he was the first judge!).

The descendants of Rueben and Gad heard Moses’ concerns and told him they’d fight with their brothers in the promised land to help them take it. They would not return home until every member of Israel had their inheritance.

This is where the third joined reading ends.  There is a “sort of” cliffhanger.  How is Moses going to respond? 

What are your thoughts?