Is HaShem in our midst or not?

(Exodus 17:7)

Shevat 14, 5777/February 10, 2017

"He named the place Massah (testing) and Merivah (quarreling) because of the quarrel of the children of Israel and because of their testing HaShem, saying, 'Is HaShem in our midst or not?'" (Exodus 17:7)

After crossing the Sea of Reeds G-d and Israel are alone together for the very first time. We ourselves may possess romantic notions of love at first sight, or dreams of happily ever after, but it is only natural that, in the post-Sea of Reeds reality, G-d will be testing Israel and that Israel will be testing G-d. After all, Israel has a lot of growing to do on the way to receiving Torah at Sinai and possessing the land G-d has promised. And G-d, for His part, will require the full measure of His supernal patience.

The parting of the Sea of Reeds was for G-d and Israel a moment in space way beyond time, a moment of complete and other one-ness - G-d and man united in love and purpose: G-d delivering His people and Israel singing pure words of praise and joy. But beyond space and time is not the world that we live in after crossing the Sea of Reeds and reaching the other side: the day to day of time and space, of waters that don't daily part... it was difficult for Israel. We may say 'they were slaves but yesterday. How much from them can we expect?' But Israel's angst was real. Just as real as it is for us today. Israel was testing G-d. And in a moment of great despair and great clarity of vision all at the same time, Israel "test[ed] HaShem, saying, 'Is HaShem in our midst or not?'"

Testing G-d was not a bad thing, but a good thing, a necessary thing: Israel had to know! Hunger and thirst has returned them to reality with a vengeance, and Israel's response is: "Hunger and thirst we can deal with. But 'Is HaShem in our midst or not?'" The answer to this question is all that Israel longs to know! Israel may have felt the sting of G-d's rebuke for the 'test,' but G-d must have felt tremendous joy and gratitude that His children long for His nearness. Just seventeen days out of Egypt Israel is yearning to be G-d's people!

G-d answers by teaching Israel chock umishpat, "a statute and an ordinance," (ibid 15:25), statutes that transcend space and time and bring us face to face with G-d, and ordinances which fit within the parameters of our world and bring us nearer to G-d by pursuing justice and peace, bringing us face to face with our fellow man. Upheld by Israel, the statute and the ordinance place HaShem "within our midst" every day of our lives, every day that we pursue and fulfill the commandments that G-d has given us.

But G-d also gives a second answer to Israel's question some five weeks later. Following the world-bending, life changing experience at Sinai, when the period of testing has come to an end and an eternal covenant has been made between Israel and G-d, and Israel has accepted upon her shoulders forever the great liberating yoke of Torah, G-d says to Israel: "And they shall make Me a Sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst." (ibid 25:8)

G-d says to Israel, "At the Sea of Reeds I brought you out of Egypt, and every day, through your observance of My Torah, you bring My Presence into your world, into your midst." "Now," G-d says to Israel, "Build for Me a Holy Temple and there, through your song and your service, you will be close to My world, within My midst."

-The Temple Institute