He taught that if the Israelites—and by extension, maybe even us—were to observe just one Shabbat, that day of rest, according to all its intricate laws, redemption would come immediately. Think about that! One perfect Shabbat! It all hinges on listening to His voice, as it says, "Today, if you listen to His voice." (Midrash Tehillim 95). And remember, it's written, "Guard the Sabbath day to sanctify it."
But… then comes the warning: "Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah." Meribah, a place of strife and testing. It reminds us of a recurring theme in our history: testing God. How many times did the Israelites test the Lord? Ten, says the text, "They tried Me these ten times."
Twice at the sea, rebelling against the very waters that saved them. At the Sea of Reeds, right in the middle of the miracle. Twice in the wilderness, grumbling about… well, everything. Once with the manna, that heavenly bread, and once with the Golden Calf, that infamous act of idolatry. Once at Paran, and then, perhaps the most devastating, with the spies who brought back a discouraging report of the Promised Land. Ten times. A pattern emerges, doesn’t it?
And it's not just the Israelites in the desert. Even our patriarch, Abraham, tested the Lord ten times, according to this midrash. Think about it: in Ur Kasdim, when he left his land, during the famine, the two incidents with Sarah in Pharaoh's and Abimelech's houses (talk about stressful!), the circumcision, the covenant between the two pigeons, and even with Isaac and Ishmael. Ten trials for Abraham, too.
Now, things get a little… well, Jewish in their meticulousness. The text points out a discrepancy. It says, "Our fathers tested the Lord ten times in the wilderness," citing "In the wilderness, in the Arabah." But then it only lists seven. So where are the other three? The Midrash Tehillim tells us they were at Taberah, a place consumed by fire, at Massah, another place of testing, and at the Graves of Lust, where the people indulged in forbidden desires.
But here's the kicker, the question that really makes you think: why weren't those first seven tests enough? Weren't they harder than Taberah, Massah, and the Graves of Lust? Why did they need those extra three?
Maybe it's because the earlier tests were about survival, about physical needs. But Taberah, Massah, and the Graves of Lust? Those were about desire. About control. About the inner battles we fight within ourselves. Maybe those are the hardest tests of all.
So, what does it all mean? Maybe it’s that redemption isn’t just about following the rules perfectly – though a perfect Shabbat sounds pretty amazing! Maybe it’s also about recognizing our patterns, understanding our temptations, and striving to do better, even when it's hard. Even when we're in the wilderness. Maybe, just maybe, that's how we truly listen to His voice.