logo_tm
Newsletter                  August 9, 2012 - 21 Av 5772
tightrope

Two Faces of Fear         

The last time he spoke with God was upon receiving the Two Tablets and hearing God's parting words, "Release Me, and I shall destroy them (for the Golden Calf) and erase their name from under the heavens." Moses descended from Sinai, smashed God's Tablets, and then, "terrified of the wrath and anger God had against you to destroy you," chose to do as he had when all was well, ascend Sinai, and then plead for his people.

In the same portion in which he presents the commandment to fear God, Moses overcomes his terror, and assumes that he can ascend Sinai at will. The common conception of fear of God would surely preclude such a brazen confrontation with God's anger, but Moses forged ahead. Our fear of anger, anyone's anger, would certainly cause us to hesitate to directly address the anger, but Moses didn't hesitate in the face of the anger that terrified him, nor in challenging the God he instructed us to fear. Even Adam and Eve, who had never experienced anger, hid from God's wrath which they feared. From where did Moses derive the courage to face the terrifying anger of God?

"Then you shall remember God, your Lord; that it is He Who empowers you to valiantly accomplish great things (8:18)." Moses heard the underlying message of all he experienced and learned as God empowering us to become valiant people who will accomplish great things. We are not asked to simply fear God, but to be in awe of His infinite strength that empowers us to achieve greatness. When Moses overcame his terror of God's wrath, climbing the mountain uninvited, and directly facing God's anger, it was an expression of his awe of God and his belief that all the power he had witnessed was to allow even the most humble of beings to storm the heavens and challenge God.

The sign of one who is in awe of God is not a head held low, but high. Awe is not expressed in a sense of insignificance. Awe can be seen in those who walk with dignity and honor, aware of the challenge of existence. When fear of God causes us to hesitate to climb it is disconnected from awe, and from God.

I do not observe the Sabbath in fear of punishment or God's anger. I observe the Sabbath, pray, and study His Torah in awe of God and of the potential granted through His guidance. Awe is not fear. It is a celebration of all we can accomplish in life.

Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Simcha L. Weinberg
President 
If you are interested in sponsoring our  awardwinning Newsletter, please email [email protected]       
                                                                      Go to our BlogBlog Image
Join Our Mailing List
             Follow us on Twitter  twitter


                 Become a Fan   facebook
The Foundation Stone
www.thefoundationstone.org