The ancient rabbis pondered this very question, drawing a profound parallel between a human father and God, our ultimate Father. Let's dive into Bamidbar Rabbah, specifically section 17, to unpack this fascinating idea.
It all starts with the verse, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you will come into the land of your dwellings, that I am giving to you" (Numbers 15:2). "When you will come into the land of your dwellings…" – this seemingly simple phrase sparked a whole line of thought. The rabbis asked a halakhic question (a question of Jewish law): what exactly is a father obligated to do for his son?
Our Rabbis taught: There are five matters that a father is obligated to perform for his son (Tosefta Kiddushin 1:8). But here’s the twist. The father in this case is God, blessed be He, and the son is Israel! It’s a powerful metaphor, a way of understanding God's relationship with His people.
So, what are these five obligations?
First, just as a father is obligated to circumcise his son, so too did God, blessed be He, do for Israel. He circumcised them by means of Joshua, as we see in Joshua 5:2: “Make flint knives for yourself [and circumcise the children of Israel]."
Next, a father is obligated to redeem his son. And how did God redeem Israel? "To redeem for Himself as a people" (II Samuel 7:23). God took us out of Egypt, freeing us from slavery.
The third obligation? To teach him Torah. And did God teach Torah to Israel? Absolutely! "You shall teach them to your children" (Deuteronomy 11:19), and even more explicitly, "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own benefit" (Isaiah 48:17). God gave us the Torah as a gift, a guide for living a meaningful life.
Fourth, to teach him mitzvot – commandments. The Holy One, blessed be He, taught mitzvot to Israel, giving us a framework for ethical and spiritual growth.
And finally, to marry a wife to him. Now, this one's interesting. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). He encouraged Israel to build families and continue the Jewish people.
But the analogy doesn't stop there! The text continues: the father is obligated to his son to feed him, give him drink, bathe him, smear him with oil, and clothe him. And again, the Holy One, blessed be He, did all of these things for Israel. "I washed you with water and rinsed your blood…[and I anointed you with oil]. I clothed you in embroidery" (Ezekiel 16:9–10); "and My bread that I gave you" (Ezekiel 16:19); "rise, well, call to it" (Numbers 21:17). Think of the manna in the desert, the water from the well – all signs of God's nurturing care.
Just as a father gives property to his son, so too did God do for Israel: "I gave you a desirable land" (Jeremiah 3:19). The land of Israel, a gift from God to His people.
Now, comes the reciprocal part. What is the son obligated to offer up to his father? It is a gift. So the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: "When you will come into the land…you will perform…a burnt offering…to the Lord" (Numbers 15:2–3). The offerings, the sacrifices – expressions of gratitude and devotion from Israel to God.
What I find so striking about this passage is its emphasis on mutual responsibility. It's not just about God's obligations to us, but also our obligations to God. It suggests that the relationship between God and Israel (and by extension, between God and each of us) is a dynamic partnership, built on love, care, and a shared commitment to living a meaningful life. What does this tell you about our role in this covenantal partnership? What gifts are we obligated to offer up?