Match Test

Pirkei Avot 5:3 teaches us;

עֲשָׂרָה נִסְיוֹנוֹת נִתְנַסָּה אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם וְעָמַד בְּכֻלָּם, לְהוֹדִיעַ כַּמָּה חִבָּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם

Abraham, our father, was tested through 10 trials – and he withstood them all; in order to show how great was the love of Abraham, our father – peace be upon him.

Maimonides on the Mishnah, Midrash Avot De Rabbi Natan and other classic commentators delineate what these tests were, with many offering that the climax was the directive to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham and Sarah’s only son.

It appears that these arduous tests are seen in a positive light. So why when the shoe is on the other foot, so to speak, is the rejoinder so harsh?

In this week’s portion of Shelach Lecha, in censuring the people for their lack of faith, after the report of the spies and their repeated complaints, God employs a fascinating if not a disconcerting set of proofs, 14:22

כִּ֣י כׇל־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים הָרֹאִ֤ים אֶת־כְּבֹדִי֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣תֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂ֥יתִי בְמִצְרַ֖יִם וּבַמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּ֣וּ אֹתִ֗י זֶ֚ה עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֖וּ בְּקוֹלִֽי׃

None of those involved—who have seen My Presence and the signs that I have performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and who have tried Me these 10 times and have disobeyed Me.

God is allegedly agitated by the tests the people are employing on Him. Are we not allowed? Is it a “match” test that is only one way, where God is able to test us whether we are worthy, but us not Him? The people had just suffered hundreds of years of torment, they are understandably skeptical of leaders of power that lack if not detest mercy. Listen again to their genuine concerns as they cry out to Moses, they resonate so powerfully and painfully post October 7th, 14:3

וְלָמָ֣ה יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה מֵבִ֨יא אֹתָ֜נוּ אֶל־הָאָ֤רֶץ הַזֹּאת֙ לִנְפֹּ֣ל בַּחֶ֔רֶב נָשֵׁ֥ינוּ וְטַפֵּ֖נוּ יִהְי֣וּ לָבַ֑ז הֲל֧וֹא ט֦וֹב לָ֖נוּ שׁ֥וּב מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

“Why is God taking us to that land to fall by the sword?” “Our wives and children will be carried off!” “It would be better for us to go back to Egypt!”

Sforno, the Italian Biblical scholar, 1475-1549, brings extraordinary insights that supports this argument and brings empathy and understanding as to the state of mind, more trauma, of the people,

ולמה ה’ מביא אותנו. מה חטאנו לו שהשתדל על ידכם להביאנו לכך. כי חשבו שהיה כל אלה בתחבולה מאתו משנאתו אותם בשביל גלוליהם במצרים או לסבה אחרת כאשר העיד באמרו ותאמרו בשנאת ה’ אותנו הוציאנו מארץ מצרים לתת אותנו ביד האמורי להשמידנו:

ולמה ה’ מביא אותנו, what sin did we commit against Him that He made the effort to bring us to this crisis by using you two as His instruments? They thought that these present troubles were all retribution for the abominable things they had been doing while in Egypt, or on account of some other cause they were not aware of which had caused G’d to hate them. We know that they had concluded that G’d must hate them from their own words in Deuteronomy 1,27: “because God hates us He took us out of Egypt in order to deliver us into the hands of the Emorite.” 

Whilst many may argue, “One of these things is not like the others”… as the “tests” continue, I prefer to struggle allowing, if not demanding, some reciprocity.F