Here we are getting to see the future. As Hashem spread people out in our Torah portion, this weeks Haftorah talks about gathering people in Jerusalem, so many people that Jerusalem expands.

One of my favorite lines (and also the most difficult to really accept) is this (Isaiah 54:4): “Do not fear another exile after the redemption. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed to proudly display your greatness, for fear that you may be exiled again, for you will not be disgraced with another exile.”

Do not be embarrassed or ashamed? Proudly display your greatness? My brain is yelling at me as I read that! “Of course you should be embarrassed and ashamed. Look at all you’ve done wrong! Look at how many bad decisions you’ve made! Look at how you’ve screwed up! There is no greatness to display!”

I don’t think I’m alone in this (please tell me I’m not alone in this!). Do we REALLY think ourselves great? Or do we think ourselves worthy of shame and embarrassment? As I posted earlier today. I am learning that I am not someone to be fixed; but I am someone to be loved and listened to. You are not someone to be fixed; you are someone to be loved and listened to.

This is so challenging. The inner conflict is great here.

And the next logical question is “why would Hashem think I’m great?” He answers this;

“For the name of your husband, who made you great, is the God of Hosts – so who could possibly oppose you? Isn’t your Redeemer none other than the Holy one of Israel, who will then be called ‘God of the entire Earth’ by all, so why be afraid?

The passage continues to show us how much Hashem loves us. All he has done for us. He may “hide his face for a short time” but all things he is doing point to how great we are! How great YOU are!