This week we began the fifth and last book of Moses “Devarim” (Deuteronomy also known as rebuke). This book is written in first person and its Moses farewell address to the Jewish people before he passed away from this world.
In 2:9 he says “You shall not distress Moav”. Chazal (the sages) teach us in the Talmud Bava Kama 38a that Moses was certain that Hashem would send him to vanquish the nation of Moav because they had aided Midyan in the plan to destroy the Jewish Nation.
There is an existential question that has always plagued us and that is “why do the wicked prosper?” In this Parasha we can find light to this millennial quandary. This is what G-d told Moses: “you might think that Moav has no value and should be obliterated, specially after making Klal Yisrael fall into such a grave sin of idolatry and illicit relations. But what about the chain? From where will Ruth descend? If there will be no Moav, there will be no Ruth. Moav will be allowed to live, so that Ruth can be the Matriarch of Monarchs and from her Meshiach will come.”
Harav Dessler says “so next time you see a wicked person prosper, let us consider that perhaps down the road, they will have a descendant that will help us in some way. This is where true Emunah (faith) and Bitachon (trust in G-d) plays a pivotal role in our lives, Hashem doesn’t make mistakes.”
Live a little higher
