Listen

      The Torah portion this week is called Ha-azinu, which means "Listen". The L‑rd is issuing a summons to the heavens and nature to listen to His charge against Israel (32:5). This is a courtroom scene: the L‑rd is the plaintiff (the one bringing the lawsuit); Israel is the defendant; the heavenly bodies/nature are the witnesses/jury. This passage is expressed poetically, in the form of a song. It is a very dramatic way to warn Israel what will happen if it makes a choice to worship the Canaanite gods. The L‑rd is not being pessimistic about Israel’s ability to be faithful. Rather, He is being realistic—Israel had already demonstrated an inclination to “cheat on the L‑rd” at the episode of the golden calf (Exodus 32:1-4) and at Baal Peor (Numbers 25:1-3). In His mercy, the L‑rd is giving Israel a “head’s up”—a glimpse into the future. The message is simply this: "If you pursue these false gods, I am going to haul you into this heavenly court, and you will be judged." Events in Israel’s history prove that the L‑rd’s concern was well founded.

      Shortly after Joshua passed from the scene, Israel began to act as if it never heard of the L‑rd G‑d (Judges 2:7-11). Israel’s history mirrors human nature—given the right circumstances, all of us can stumble and fall spiritually. We all do well to pay attention to Paul's words: "If you think you are standing firmly, pay attention because you may fall," (I Corinthians 11:8).

      Perhaps we too need a glimpse into the future, like the L‑rd provided Israel—hopefully, not too often. We need to be vividly reminded of our potential to sin; to turn away from the L‑rd for all kinds of reasons. Only when we appreciate that fact, will we be driven to cling to the L‑rd; to solely depend upon His power to keep us remaining on the “straight and narrow”.

            Let us be encouraged by the fact that He, and He alone “is able to keep [us] from falling and to present [us] before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24).