Voeschanan – Prayer
(Deuteronomy 3:23) “And I implored Hashem at that time saying.” “And I implored” in Hebrew is” voeschanan” numerically 515 the same value as the word tefillah – prayer. “At that time”, does not specify the time. It is a lesson for us to pray at any time. Even if we think that we are unworthy, the time may be right for prayer.
In fact, this is an example that we can pray with a specific request. However, we do not always receive the response that we hope to achieve. Yet, even when we do not, the response to our prayer may soften the effect of what was to occur.
(Deuteronomy 4:29) “From there you shall seek Hashem.” People look all over for a place to seek Hashem when in truth the place is in your heart. (Psalms 37:31) “The Torah of G-d is in his heart.” The optional place to truly feel the Creator’s guidance is in your heart. Yet the Creator hears us and answers us from wherever we may be and whatever our circumstances are as the verse states (Psalms 130:1) “From the depth I call you Hashem.”
(Deuteronomy 5:21-22) “Hashem showed us His Glory … why should we die if we continue to listen to the sound of Hashem…” When the truth of our existence is revealed, we may all feel that it is too much for us and we are about to die. Yet it is the humble knowledge that all we do is nothing in comparison to Hashem that allows us to absorb the revelation. Praying for Hashem to help us for no reason other than He created us, is the way to get beyond our limits.
Hashem created darkness to allow light to be expressed and appreciated. At times a person is given abilities but for some reason is blocked from using them. One reason is that Hashem gives people choices and has the response waiting. By creating various possible responses, it allows choice. So even though Hashem knows the choice a person will make, He still puts in place the possibility to actualize other pathways.
When people attribute power to the things or people that they can see or touch but do not acknowledge where that power comes from, they create a form of idol worship. One explanation given (Megaleh Amukos) for what Moshe could have achieved had he been able to enter the land of Israel, is that in the Holy land he would have then been able to remove the negative inclination for idol worship.
Yehoshua entered the land but was not able to do it (Talmud Eruchin 32b). This had to wait for the sages in the time of Ezra to do it. When removing something, a vacuum is created that must be filled with something. Meaning they did remove the Torah prohibition from people’s inclination. However, the fact that it was “exchanged” for the inclination of money created the growth of a new problem. People became obsessed with acquisition of money. The negative inclination cannot be eradicated from our midst as this is part of the choice that was created for people. It will only be removed once the Creator decides it is time to do so.
When the light of the Creator is revealed, then all people, including those who worshipped false gods, preoccupied themselves with accumulating material wealth and power, did not conduct themselves as an “honest broker” in their businesses and relationships, or followed their negative inclinations, etc. will no longer have a place to take refuge.
We are all in a state of flux. We are somewhere in history between where we are and we have to get to. The path opened for us when we entered the land of Israel. It was closed when we went into exile. Once again Hashem gave us a sliver of hope for the future by allowing us to re-enter part of the land of Israel. We see parts fall into place miraculously and pray that the surge of life continues to deliver us to the complete redemption. We need to be comforted both physically and spiritually, therefore the word comfort is mentioned twice in Isaiah 40:1.