A Quick Thought -- Parashas Mishpatim

In this week’s parashah, we can gain a wonderful insight into the tremendous love Hashem has for Klal Yisrael.


Hashem tells the nation: הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ מַלְאָךְ לְפָנֶיךָ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בַּדָּרֶךְ וְלַהֲבִיאֲךָ אֶל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר הֲכִנֹתִי, הִשָּׁמֶר מִפָּנָיו וּשְׁמַע בְּקֹלוֹ אַל תַּמֵּר בּוֹ כִּי לֹא יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם כִּי שְׁמִי בְּקִרְבּוֹ, כִּי אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע בְּקֹלוֹ וְעָשִׂיתָ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר וְאָיַבְתִּי אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ וְצַרְתִּי אֶת־צֹרְרֶיךָ, I am sending an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place that I had prepared. Be careful of him and heed his word, do not rebel against him, for he will not tolerate your sins, for My Name is within him. But if you will heed his word and fulfill what I will say, then I will make your enemies my enemies and I will torment your tormentors (23:20-22).


Rashi explains that Hashem is speaking of the time after the Jews worshipped the Eigel, when Hashem has removed His Presence from their midst and has sent an angel instead.


The malach is there to guard and lead them, and the angel, who has no tolerance for sin, will immediately react to their misdeeds. It appears that Hashem will have no direct interest in the nation.


This passuk teaches us that although He seems to have abandoned Klal Yisrael, Hashem remains with them in the background – מַשְׁגִּיחַ מִן הַחֲלֹּנוֹת מֵצִיץ מִן הַחֲרַכִּים, watching from the window, glimpsing through the cracks, as it were – waiting for them to heed His Word. As soon as they do – even as he remains away, with the malach in place – He takes on their cause and fights their enemies: וְאָיַבְתִּי אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ וְצַרְתִּי אֶת־צֹרְרֶיךָ, I will make your enemies My enemies and I will torment your tormentors. The malach is what they see and is the one who exacts retribution when they sin, but it is Hashem himself who protects them as soon as they listen.


Wherever we are and whatever happens, Hashem is with us. If we follow His Word, He will protect us and fend for us, because even when He chooses to remain invisible, He continues to be our Loving and Compassionate Father.


May we be zocheh that He reveal His love for us to all, with the geulah sheleimah b'mheirah.


Gut Shabbos.