That’s the image Sifrei Devarim 318 paints for us, riffing on the verse "and the blood of the grape will you drink as wine." It’s not about hard work, the text suggests. No more tiring yourself with treading grapes and harvesting. Instead, you just wheel the whole wagon in, park it in a corner, and drink straight from the source. Abundance beyond measure.

But is that abundance always a blessing? The text doesn't seem so sure. It goes on to quote Deuteronomy 32:15: "And Yeshurun grew fat and it kicked." Yeshurun, a poetic name for Israel. Satiety breeds rebellion, it warns. A fascinating idea, isn’t it?

Think about the generation of the flood. According to this passage, their rebellion against God wasn't born of hardship, but from “a superabundance of food and drink and tranquility.” Job 21:9 describes their lives: "Their houses are at peace, without fear. The rod of God is not upon them." Everything was too easy, too comfortable.

And it wasn’t just them. The Sifrei Devarim also points to the generation of the desert. Remember the golden calf incident? The text links that directly to excess: "and the people sat down to eat and drink," as we read in Exodus 32:6. What happened next? "They have turned quickly from the way that I have commanded them," (Exodus 32:8).

The Holy One, Blessed be He, even warned Moses about this very thing. When Israel enters the land, they are destined to rebel because of too much food, too much drink, and too much tranquility. As Deuteronomy 31:20 foretells, "For I shall bring them to the land that I have sworn to their fathers, flowing milk and honey, and they shall eat and be sated and grow fat, and they shall turn to other gods, etc."

So, Moses, in turn, warns the people. When you enter the land, he says, be careful not to rebel against the Lord because of all the good things you’re enjoying. Deuteronomy 8:12-13 says, "Lest you eat and be sated … and your herds and your flocks increase, etc." And the danger that follows? "And your heart be lifted and you forget the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 8:14).

It’s a powerful message, isn’t it? That ease and comfort can be a spiritual trap. That gratitude and awareness are essential, especially when things are going well. The Sifrei Devarim isn't just telling us a story; it’s offering a constant reminder: Don’t forget where your blessings come from. Don't let abundance blind you to the source of all good. How easy is it to fall into that trap ourselves?