Parashat HaShavua Ha'Azinu / Give Ear
This Week's Reading List:
Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:1-52
Hoshea / Hosea 14:2-10
Yoel / Joel 2:11-27
Micha / Micah 7:18-20
Romim / Romans 10:14-11:12
Devarim {32:1} Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak; Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. {32:2} My doctrine shall drop as the rain; My speech shall condense as the dew, As the small rain on the tender grass, As the showers on the herb. {32:3} For I will proclaim the Name of HaShem: Ascribe you greatness to our G-D. {32:4} The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice: A G-D of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He.
Do you think Moshe (Moses) is trying to tell us something here? What an Awesome G-d we serve! Moshe is giving us what I think is the most accurate description anyone could ever give of our G-d. In fact Moshe is saying that the description he is giving of our G-d should be to us as refreshing as rain (something that is very precious in a dry and dusty land like Yisrael (Israel), as vivifying as dew (something Yisrael relies upon for moisture during the dry season) and as welcome as showers on growing herbs.
Why does Moshe start this song with a vivid description of who G-d is? He does this because most people do not truly know their G-d. Many people view G-d, who throughout Scripture is called our Farther, in relation to how they view their earthly father. If, therefore, they had a negative relationship with their earthly father, then this negativity is transferred unto how they view their heavenly Father. Moshe here is clarifying to us that, without a doubt, our heavenly Father is nothing like our earthly father or anyone or anything else that we can possibly imagine – even in our best dreams. The Shaliach (Apostle) Shaul (Paul) express that sentiment exactly when he writes:
Korintim Alef (1 Corinthians) {2:9} However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what G-d has prepared for those who love Him.
If we want to continue on in faith in a world wrought with violence and godlessness, then we have to Ha’azinu (Give Ear) to what Moshe is telling us. The world will try to convince us that there is no G-d. You may even be tempted when you are ill or in some other dire circumstance to say, “If G-d loves me, then why is He allowing this to happen?” However, the fact is that there is a G-d, and He allows things to happen to us for any number of reasons.
Romim (Romans) {11:34} For who has known the mind of the L-rd, or who became His counsellor?
This is the point Moshe is trying to get across to bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel). In last week’s Parasha Moshe told bnei Yisrael that they were going to become an apostate nation, yet here in this weeks Parasha he drives home the fact that no matter what happens to bnei Yisrael in the future that they are to first and foremost remember G-d’s love for them and then they need to remember the following:
Devarim {32:4} The Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice: A G-D of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He.
How many of us need to know this very same thing. G-d is good! He is all the things Moshe described Him to be and more. Yet, how many of us have doubted Him? That doubt is in and of itself sin, which leads us into even more sin. In response to our lack of faith Moshe reminds us of G-d’s justice. Moshe then goes on to give us another accurate description. This description is of bnei Yisrael and really of us as well, and it’s not a very pleasant one.
Devarim {32:5} They have dealt corruptly with Him, they are not His children, it is their blemish; They are a perverse and crooked generation. {32:6} Do you thus repay HaShem, foolish people and unwise? Is not He your 'Ab (Father) who has bought you? He has made you, and established you.
We need to place ourselves into this verse. Why, because we too are a perverse and crooked generation. Instead of repaying HaShem for His love, kindness, generosity and mercy towards us with our obedience, we repay Him with rebellion. Sadly the results for us will be the same as for bnei Yisrael if we rely on ourselves, anyone or anything other than G-d for help.
Devarim {32:37} He will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge; {32:38} Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your shomer (guardian). {32:39} See now that I, even I, am He, There is no G-D with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; There is none who can deliver out of My hand.
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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
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