I saw a great staying the other day, ”humble yourself or life will do it for you”.
I’m not sure why I stumbled on this saying — perhaps it was a sign…no doubt it was!
We read one of the most powerful dialogues in the Torah this week, between our Forefather Abraham and Gd. It was more of a bargaining from Abraham in defense of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, just prior to G-d destroying these towns.
Abraham put forth a vigorous defense but preceded his bold words by saying, “I am but dust and ashes”. In other words, I am unworthy of approaching and arguing, for who am I to challenge you Gd? Yet then he does.
“I am but dust and ashes”. Humble yet inspired. Humble yet powerful. Abraham uses those same Divine traits of compassion and justice —gleaned from non other than Gd and so inherent in following Gd’s ways —to defend and challenge what was about to unfold.
Humility isn’t weakness. It’s the recognition that it’s not about you. Even undertaking a worthy cause or defending what one perceives to be a worthy cause requires humility. If a noble cause lacks humility it’s just a manifestation of ego and emptiness encased in a fancy wrapping.
Abraham, the epitome of “dust” like behavior, was also promised that his progeny would be like the dust of the earth. “So that if one could count the dust of the earth then your descendants also will be countable”.
Yes, an inherent trait of the Jewish nation is one of humility. It’s also one of being humbled unfortunately. Yet one thing is certain — the Gd of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers. International pressure, baseless accusations, silence, eloquence, double standards or blatant disregard of the eternal connection of the Jewish nation to the land of Israel — really doesn’t change a thing for after all our existence is one that is woven into the very fabric of the world — for blessing.
“I will bless those that bless you and those who curse you will be cursed — and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you”.
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,