As Deuteronomy begins to wind down, the Israelites' journey comes to a close. The Jews' entry to the Promised Land is very much like God lending Israel a car. Although God is willing to give Israel the keys, God stills feels a lot of validated nervousness. The Israelites are very new to driving, and God wants to make sure they can handle their new responsibility. Like trusting a teenage driver, God is nervous that Israel will not follow through with the covenant made in the desert over the last forty years. God hopes for the best, but warns Israel of the consequences of breaking the covenant. Driving poorly results in a accident. Likewise, disobeying God also may involve pain. Under some circumstance, the punishment could be severe, including entire excommunication from the twelve tribes of Israel. Controversially, God denounces following only one's freewill. God claims that one who says, "I shall be safe, though I follow my own willful heart," is doomed to great misfortune.
God chose to make humans separated from the rest of humanity. Unlike any other living creature on Earth, people can make decision while being cognizant of emotion and condition. Humans determine their actions based on freewill. Anything from a gorilla to a starfish, merely eat, sleep, and drink to survive. Abstract thinking separates humanity from the animal kingdom. In contrast, God condemns the use of freewill in this week's Torah portion. God orders the Israelites to
obey the commandments listed in the Torah. Where do humans cross the line between decision making and defying God's law? God dislikes humans with a willful heart, but it is this very attribute that makes humans unique from all of creation. Similar to many conundrums in life, the key to freewill is balance. One is free to choose whether or not to eat a bacon cheeseburger. Based on one's degree of observation, loyalty to God may vary. Most people scorn murder, but go out on Shabbat. Where does freewill cross over to disloyalty?
Does religion hold one back from the splendors of life? According to the portion, God desires all Jews follow the laws of the Torah to some degree. From as early a stage as infancy, God's commandments contradict daily routines. Take a child's birthday party for example. Mary is celebrating her fifth birthday party on a Saturday afternoon. Rachel wants to go because Mary and her are very close friends. However, she recognizes that Shabbat is a day of rest and reflection not fit for such a strenuous festivity. Even if Rachel decides to go, she realizes that the lunch being served is a pepperoni pizza with an ice cream buffet afterward. Although Rachel is merely five years old, she already faces constraints which her religious forced upon her. Why even observe the commandments if they become an obstacle? After all, plenty of people ignore the word of God. Contrary to this week's parashat, they face no mayhem worse than anyone else in the world. First of all, observing any religion or offers insight into the soul. The arbitrary religion one is born into may not be the one meant for them. Secondly, religious law is a tool for establishing values. Abstaining from shellfish seems absurd in one person's eyes, but offers the lesson of discipline in another's eyes. Religion does not hold back from life's joys. It enhances them. Sometimes the choices are tough, but overall the guidance and spirituality religion can offer is worth the risk of missing out on one birthday party.
No comments:
Post a Comment