Posted on 09/08/16
In this week’s Parsha, Shoftim, Moshe teaches us “When you come to the Land which HaShem gives you do not learn from those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who practices divinations, an astrologer, a sorcerer, an animal charmer, one who consults with the dead … for whosoever does these is an abomination… Rather, you shall be complete with HaShem. For those nations listen to soothsayers but as for you – not so has HaShem given for you. A prophet like me HaShem will raise among you – to him you shall listen…”
The reason for performing the abovementioned divinations was to learn what the future held. Man has always had a curiosity to learn what the future held. It allows him to plan ahead and perhaps even change the future. Therefore Moshe tells us that we must have a different approach to life. We must be complete with HaShem. Being complete with HaShem means to be totally trusting that HaShem will do what is best for us and we have no need to know the future. Our Director and Guide knows the future and He will plan accordingly with our best interests in mind.
There is however, a difficulty with this verse. At the end of the verse Moshe tells us that instead of using all those methods we have a different method. That method is a prophet and we should listen to the prophet. On the surface it seems that the only difference between the Jewish position and the other nations is by what method do we divine the future.
This seems to contradict the mitzvah of “You shall be complete with HaShem” which instructs us not to be concerned at all with knowledge of the future. The implication is that even if we have a prophet who tells us the future we should have no interest in what he has to say.
To answer this question let us reevaluate the function of the prophet. The role of the Jewish prophet was not to be the one to advise his people had to invest their money by informing them of the future. The role of the Jewish prophet was to give direction to his people regarding HaShem’s expectations for them. He was the messenger from HaShem to tell the people that they should be more honest or more caring to one another and so on. As being HaShem’s chosen people we have a responsibility to be the stewards of His world. He entrusted His world to our care. As such we need to be in touch with His Will and what it is that He expects of us.
When Moshe tells his people to be complete with HaShem, he is telling us much more than “do not be concerned about the future, leave it to HaShem”. Moshe is telling us that our entire focus as a nation and as individuals should be to be perfectly in sync with the Will of HaShem. And for that purpose HaShem will give us a prophet to keep us in line with His Will.
It is with sadness that we no longer have prophets to guide us in this direction. However, we do have the various holidays which provide us inspiration and give us strength to move in the right direction. The current days of Elul in which we find ourselves carry with them such inspiration. Let us tap into them and prepare ourselves for the great holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.