We make choices every day about who or what we'll put our faith in.
But what if the best choice wasn't about picking the flashiest option, but choosing the source of all blessings instead?
Devarim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Deuteronomy, opens up with a powerful parable. Rabbi Yitzḥak begins with a verse from Lamentations (3:24): “The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will await Him.” It's a verse of profound faith and trust, even in the face of hardship.
Rabbi Yitzḥak then asks us to imagine a king visiting a province. He doesn't arrive alone; he's accompanied by his entourage: generals, rulers, governors, all vying for influence. The residents of the province are faced with a choice: who will they align themselves with? Some choose a general, hoping for protection. Others choose a ruler, seeking favor. Still others pick a governor, aiming for stability. Each of these figures holds power, but their power is limited, delegated.
But then there's the clever one. The one who understands the true source of authority. This person declares, "I am choosing only the king. Why? Because all of them can be replaced, but the king cannot be replaced."
Isn't that a powerful image? It speaks to the nature of true and lasting commitment.
The parable then shifts to the revelation at Sinai. When the Holy One, blessed be He, descended to Sinai, he wasn’t alone. As we're told, many groups of angels descended with Him – Mikhael and his group, Gavriel and his group. These mighty angels, each with their own sphere of influence, are like the king's entourage.
And just like in the parable, the nations of the world had a choice. Some, we're told, selected Mikhael, hoping for his particular brand of divine assistance. Others chose Gavriel, seeking a different kind of blessing.
But Israel? Israel chose something different. Israel chose the Holy One, blessed be He, directly. They declared, "The Lord is my portion, says my soul."
This echoes the very core of Jewish belief, as we say in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4): “Hear, Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.” It’s a statement of radical monotheism, a declaration that all other powers and influences are secondary to the ultimate source of being.
Choosing the king, choosing the Holy One, isn't about rejecting all other forms of help or guidance. It's about recognizing where true power and lasting blessing ultimately reside. It's about understanding that while generals and governors may come and go, the King endures.
So, what does it mean for us today?
Perhaps it means being mindful of where we place our ultimate trust. Are we chasing after fleeting trends and temporary solutions, or are we connecting to something deeper and more enduring? Are we choosing the equivalent of generals and governors, or are we choosing the King?
It's a question worth pondering. A question that resonates across the centuries, from the dusty roads of ancient provinces to our own complex and ever-changing world. And like the clever resident in the parable, maybe the wisest choice is to choose the One who cannot be replaced.