A young couple moved to Banff. This vacation paradise located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks. The awesome beauty of the slopes changes with the seasons—glistening snow, bright wildflowers, golden autumn leaves.
For the first year or so, every time the couple walked outside
they stopped to admire the beauty of their mountain setting. They were sure
they would never tire of the glorious sights that surrounded them. But they
did. They began to ignore all that beauty. It wasn’t long until it had become
familiar and didn’t excite them anymore.
This reminds me of the Israelites. After escaping from Egypt
into the wilderness, they ran out of food. But God heard their cry and fed them
with a daily supply of manna. At first they must have been awed by God’s
incredible provision. Were they still enamored with manna after eating it for
40 years? Commenting on a verse below the line in this week’s Torah portion,
Parashat Eikev, raises this very question.
Moses tells the children of Israel, “Remember the long way that
the Lord your God has made you travel in the wilderness these past 40 years,
that He might test you by hardships to learn what was in your heart: whether
you would keep his commandments are not.” (Dt. 3: 2) commenting on the words
“testing you by hardships,” the Etz Hayyim commentary below the line reads:
“…Or was it to see if they would remain grateful to God even if they knew their
food supply was assured?” (Page 1039)
Do you ever find yourself becoming apathetic with all the
blessings God showers on you each day? Don’t take them for granted. Remember to
thank God for your daily manna: life and strength, and the countless good
things He provides each day.
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