By: Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui
What does performing what appears to be insignificant commandments, have to do with G-d going out of His way, for us?
Why is it written, that because we go out of our way to thank G-d for the food He gives us, we are blessed in undeserved marvelous ways?
And one more. When we don’t do what G-d wants, and we go against His wishes, why is there hidden in this mishap the greatest of goodness?
We are all familiar with contracts, especially friendship and marriage contracts. One of the reasons to draw up a contract between friends is in the remote chance that later on feelings aren’t like they are at the present time, the contract guarantees and assures the commitment will in no way become reduced from its’ present time. A covenant transforms the current mutual feelings to an eternal obligation even if later on it may be irrational to follow through.
The same is with G-ds covenant and promises. It guarantees His pledge and flow of blessings eternally.
How and why is this the case? When a person approaches his service and worship to G-d in such a way that any and every opportunity to serve is looked at with equal enthusiasm whether it’s a big deal or just a small deal, the persons’ own action exhibits and determines that logic itself, big and small, is all put aside because of a relationship that goes beyond logic.
This in turn causes G-d to deal with this individual in the very same way. Whether he deserves or doesn’t deserve G-ds good grace, logic is set aside to reciprocate and extend kindness not necessarily according to the regular rules, or of logic that G-d Himself set up.
This explains the Midrash that says. “G-d forgives his people and shows his countenance and good favor because, although the Bible says, “you will eat and be satisfied and bless G-d your G-d”, only after you are satisfied you are obligated to say grace after meals, yet they have accepted to say thanks even when they eat the smallest portion of an olive size.”
Showing a good face and forgiving is similar to the concept of an oath and covenant. In the same way that carrying through with the commitment of an oath will be beyond logic, forgiveness many times goes beyond what one deserves and what makes sense. But because we do more than is demanded and thank Him even on the smallest portion of food, G-d acts the same way in response to our own behavior.
This also explains why the Bible when describing the unique G-dly given chance, exclusive to the human race for complete and total free choice in our decisions, the opportunity to choose bad and as a result draw curses upon ourselves, G-d presents this opportunity as if coming from the deepest most powerful parts of G-d, reaching the deepest aspects of our souls.
In other words, making bad choices will blemish our deepest identity as humans.
When a person falls from “G-d made them straightforward”, the lower a person tumbles away from goodness they become like an elastic band pulled backwards. It can only happen because of the great and very deep G-dly powers He endowed within each one of us, to fall so low. G-d who is so powerful allows his strength to reach the furthest reaches from his light to the deepest abysses of darkness.
However, it is necessarily in these places and circumstances, when one already finds themselves there, and realizes how low they have fallen, that they can and will rebound from there, to become so much stronger and meritorious because, and out of this experience.
Never underestimate the little acts and the dark and difficult situations. It is there, we find the greatest of blessings and forgiveness.
To read more articles from Rabbi Ezagui visit him at http://koshercaffeine.blogspot.com
