It’s a question that resonates throughout Jewish tradition, and one that the Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, tackles head-on.

The passage we're looking at starts with a quote from Malachi 1:11: "For from the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great [among the nations]." It’s a beautiful verse, but in this context, it’s a bit of a rebuke. God, so to speak, is saying, "Look, the other nations – the non-Jews – they respect Me. But you, My chosen people… you infuriate Me!"

Ouch.

The text goes on to illustrate this point with a fascinating story about Eglon, the king of Moab. Eglon, a "heathen," as the text puts it, showed respect for God simply by rising from his throne when Ehud son of Gera mentioned God's name (Judges 3:20). Imagine that! A pagan king, showing more reverence than God's own people. The Bamidbar Rabbah uses this to drive home the point: even those outside the covenant seem to get it, so why don’t we?

Then comes the heart of the matter. God asks, "Until when need I be tolerant of them? 'Until when, for this evil congregation?'" It's a raw, emotional question, filled with frustration and perhaps even a touch of sadness. It really gets you thinking about the patience and understanding that God has shown us over the millennia.

But the passage doesn’t stop with the criticism. It then shifts to a powerful, almost tender, analogy. God says, “As it were, a person purchases a slave so the slave will take the lantern and illuminate for the purchaser. But, I did not do so, but rather, you are My slaves, “for the children of Israel are slaves to Me” (Leviticus 25:55), but I take the lantern and illuminate for you."

Think about that for a moment. Usually, a master expects the slave to serve them, to make their life easier. But God flips the script. He’s saying, "I should be having you light the way for me, but instead, I'm lighting the way for you."

The analogy continues. Normally, a slave prepares the way for their master, setting up camp ahead of time. But God, as it is stated in Numbers 10:33, had the Ark of the Covenant travel before the Israelites, "to scout a resting place for them." God is preparing the way for us, his supposed servants!

And finally, the last analogy: baking bread. Traditionally, a slave would bake bread for their master. But what did God do? He baked bread from the heavens – manna – for the Israelites (Psalms 78:25). “Men ate the bread of the mighty!” the verse proclaims.

What’s the takeaway from all of this? It’s a powerful reminder of the unique relationship between God and the Jewish people. God isn't just a distant, demanding deity. He is a loving, patient, and ever-giving presence in our lives. Despite our flaws and shortcomings, He continues to provide for us, guide us, and even "light the way" for us.

It's a challenging and comforting thought all at once, isn't it? It urges us to reflect on how we treat the Divine in our own lives and to strive to be worthy of the incredible gifts we've been given.