But what about everyone else?
Well, Sifrei Devarim 311 sheds some light. It interprets the verse about consulting "your elders, and they shall say it to you" (Deuteronomy 32:7) as a reference back to Sinai. Specifically, it recalls what God showed the elders on the mountain. And here's the kicker: it quotes Exodus 24:1, 10, where we read that Moses, Aaron, Nadav, Avihu, and seventy elders of Israel actually went up to God and "saw the God of Israel." They saw God! So, it wasn't just Moses having a divine experience. A select group of elders did too, paving the way for their role as witnesses and transmitters of tradition.
But what about the rest of us? Why don't we see miracles like that all the time? Why isn’t the world filled with constant, undeniable displays of divine power?
That brings us to another fascinating passage in Sifrei Devarim, this time connecting to Deuteronomy 32:8, "When the Most High caused nations to inherit." It paints a picture of a world before Abraham, a world judged with, well, let's just say intensity.
Think about it. The generation of the Flood? Wiped out. The builders of the Tower of Bavel (Babylon)? Scattered across the earth. The people of Sodom? Consumed by fire and brimstone. Harsh consequences for wrongdoing, right?
But then Abraham arrives on the scene, and something shifts. Instead of total destruction, we see afflictions. As Genesis 12:9 says, "And there was a famine in the land, and Avram went down to Egypt." Why the change?
The text suggests it's because of God's love for Israel. Think about that for a second. The idea is that God, in His love, chooses to inflict hardships rather than complete annihilation. It's a difficult concept, isn't it? A challenging idea that suggests a profound shift in the way God interacts with humanity.
Instead of wiping the slate clean every time we mess up, God finds a way to work with us, through the mess, through the pain. It is as if, with the arrival of Abraham, the world moves from a state of pure, undiluted judgment to one where love and consequence are intertwined in a complex dance.
So, what does this all mean? Perhaps it's a reminder that we live in a world where divine intervention isn't always obvious, but where God's presence is felt in the trials we face and the love that sustains us. Maybe it's an invitation to look for the subtle signs of God's hand in our lives, even when things are difficult. Because, according to this ancient text, even the afflictions can be a sign of love.