by Rabbi Russ Resnik

 

"Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages." (General George Washington)

The final parashah in Numbers opens with a recap of the history of the previous generation: "These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Num. 33:1). It concludes with the new generation encamped on the plains of Moab and ready to enter the Promised Land.

 

Two generations with two very different destinies share the space of this final parashah. Our first reading, however, strikes us not with the contrast between the two, but with their similarities. Since the decade of the sixties, we've been accustomed to speak of a generation gap, the vast and sometimes irreconcilable differences between generations. In Numbers, however, instead of encountering a generation gap, we discover to our disappointment that the new generation repeats the sins of its parents' generation. They both complain against Moses and Aaron and mistrust their leadership, and ultimately the Lord himself. They even go so far as to protest their deliverance from Egypt!

The waters of Meribah highlight this similarity between generations.  Just as the generation that "went out of the land of Egypt" complained about lack of water at this site in Exodus 17, so did the new generation in Numbers 20. It may have been shock at the unredeemed quality of the new generation that led Moses to transgress in his response to them, which we read about in Parashat Hukkat.  Nevertheless, despite such similarities, the new generation will enter the Promised Land, the very thing that the older generation failed to do. What is the difference between these generations? It may be summed up in one word: courage.  Courage, we are often told, is not the absence of fear. Rather, it is doing the right thing despite fear, inability, and uncertainty about the outcome. Such courage is contagious.

In the United States, we remember 1776 as the year of independence, but we forget that it was also a year of military defeat and near-disaster for the new republic. The British easily drove Washington and his troops out of New York City, which both sides saw as a strategic key to the entire war. The Continental Army fled across New Jersey, barely evading the far superior forces of the British army. Finally, it crossed the Delaware River into Pennsylvania for safety. Even then, the Continental Congress, meeting in nearby Philadelphia, felt so threatened that it fled to Baltimore. Finally, Washington saw an opportunity to turn things around. On Christmas night 1776, in the midst of a freezing storm, he led 2400 of his ill-clad, hungry, discouraged troops back across the Delaware, boatload by boatload, to attack the Hessian garrison at Trenton in the morning. It was the first clear victory for the Americans. A few days later, in response to a British counter-attack, Washington led his troops behind the front to attack Princeton. This led to a second American victory, but only after the field commander was killed and Washington took personal command. One of his officers describes the scene:

 

"I shall never forget what I felt . . . when I saw him brave all the dangers of the field and his important life hanging as it were by a single hair with a thousand deaths flying around him. Believe me, I thought not of myself" (David McCullough, 1776, p. 289).

Courage is contagious. Washington's display of courage inspired his officers and men to think not of themselves or the danger they faced, but only of the glorious cause.

Without courage there can be no obedience to God's word, no leadership of God's people. The first generation lacks the courage to enter the Promised Land; the new generation moves forward and enters in. When the twelve spies were sent to scout out the land, Moses instructed them, "v'hit'chazaktem" "and be of good courage" (from the root hazak). But only Joshua and Caleb had the courage to believe that they could actually take the land as God had commanded. Later, when Joshua is appointed to lead the people, God tells Moses, "oto hazek?encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it" (Deut. 1:38).  The wilderness is the place of both testing and blessing. Courage determines which will dominate. The same trials that wear down the fainthearted and lead them into sin motivate the courageous and lead them into new strength and dedication.

The Midrash captures both possibilities in its commentary on the opening words of our parashah, "These are the journeys. . . ." First, it says, "The Holy One Blessed Be He said to Moses: 'Write down the stages by which Israel journeyed in the wilderness, in order that they shall know what miracles I wrought for them'" (Midrash Rabbah, Numbers 23:1). Immediately after, it says, "The Holy One Blessed Be He said to Moses: 'Recount to them all the places where they provoked Me'" (Ibid, Numbers 23:3).

The same locations can be places of miracle and scenes of provocation.  Trials and difficulties inevitably come our way, but these are not what wear us down, for they also are occasions for miraculous intervention.

Courage is contagious, and so is its opposite, discouragement. Numbers teaches us that we lose courage, or become discouraged, when we respond in certain ways to our trials.

• We lose courage when we second-guess ourselves. Like our forebears, we contemplate a return to Egypt instead of preparing for the future into which God is leading us. 
• We lose courage when we allow ourselves to complain and cast blame upon others instead of taking responsibility for our problems and seeking a solution. 
• We lose courage when we listen to negativity and unbelief instead of remembering God's promise and all that he has already brought us through on the way to its fulfillment.

The first generation listened to words of discouragement and failed to enter the Promised Land. The next generation gradually learned to listen to and speak words of encouragement themselves, saying to Joshua: "All that you command us, we will do. . . . Only be strong and of good courage" (Josh. 1:16?18).

Courage is contagious. It is good to have models like Joshua or Washington, but the ultimate source of our courage is Messiah himself.

Let us, too, put aside every impediment?that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement?and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting, Yeshua?who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Yes, think about him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won't grow tired or become despondent. (Heb.  12:1b?3 CJB)

We can gain courage and we pass courage on to others through words of encouragement. Hence, as we conclude our reading of Numbers, as at the end of each book of the Torah, we repeat the traditional words: Hazak!  Hazak! V'nit'chazek! Be strong! Be courageous! And let us encourage one another!

For the journey: Courage is contagious. It's not enough just to survive our trials and difficulties, for if we view them courageously they become the site of miracles. How can I encourage myself and those around me today?

Russ Resnik
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Taken from the newly-released "Creation to Completion: A Guide to Life's Journey from the Five Books of Moses," by Russ Resnik. Order from the publisher, Lederer Books/Messianic Jewish Publishers, at www.messianicjewish.net, or by calling 800-410-7367.