Deuteronomy 1:17b. “And the thing which is too hard for you, you shall bring near to me and I shall hear it.”

 

The context of this passage is a message delivered by Moses who instructed  the elders to judge matters of conflicts and bickerings that would arise among the people of Israel.  If a matter were too difficult, hard, kasha to handle they were to bring it to Moses who would hear it.

 

There are some questions that come to mind when you read this verse. First the word for thing is davar which literally means a word but is a word from the heart, a true word, a word which expresses what a person really feels. It is a word born out of a true conviction.  The Talmud teaches that this matter or word of true conviction is related to the word hard or  kasah which in Hebrew which means  harsh, stubborn obstinate and relates to an obstruction. In other words you could render this as: “If this word born of true conviction becomes an obstruction to hearing the voice of God…”  I have met many people who speak out of true conviction such that they are not open to hearing any other interpretations which may block them from really hearing the voice of God.  I have met Jehovah Witnesses who have a davar, a true conviction that Jesus was not divine but was the Arch Angel Michael such that they will refuse to read or even listen to any argument that might suggest otherwise.  Such an attitude could shut them out from hearing the voice of God because if God’s voice says something different than their davar, word of conviction, they will not listen even if it is God’s voice for they will not recognize it.

 

It seems this verse is trying say that if the elders hear something that is very difficult for them to accept because they are so closed minded that they cannot discern the voice of God they are to take it to Moses.  Note the verse says: “Hard for you or an obstruction for you. The word for you is mekem which grammatically does not belong here.  This is a separable pronoun, which does not add anything to this verse.  The sages teach that the word  (for you) mekem is there to emphasize the point that the obstruction is in the elders.  In other words the problem is not in the parishioner but in the bias of the pastor.

 

Did you ever have a problem in your church and as a pastor or elder you had to mediate the conflict and somehow the conflict was just overwhelming? It is very easy to just say that these people are impossible and maybe even be tempted to tell the person in the center of the conflict that it would be better if they worshiped somewhere else.  Or even if you are not a pastor or elder and you have  a conflict in your home, or at work where you find yourself in the middle trying to mediate a problem and you reach that point where it is too kasah, hard, stubborn.  You are tempted to just crawl under yon rock and hide or even quit your job.   Consider what Moses is telling the elders.  If the problem is too stubborn mekem for you. 

 

Moses says to bring it to me and I shall hear it. The word for hear is shama which means to listen intently.  Note, why does he not say: “I will make it know or give an answer.”  Moses does not say he will give them the answer, only that he will listen. 

 

The sages teach that a person’s preoccupation which the physical world and desires will cause a wall of separation between himself and God causing him to be unable to hear the voice of God.  You see the conflicts that these elders were to deal with would ultimately be resolved through hearing the voice of God. But they become so personally involved in the conflict, their pride is wounded and it must be defended.  Their authority or knowledge is challenged and they must rise to the occasion to protect their reputation. Odds are that they will likely not hear the voice of God. They become preoccupied with the earthly or physical matters and forget the spiritual matter involved.  So, the sages teach, that they were to go to Moses.  We learn in earlier passages that the elders were to remove their shoes when they approached Moses.  The Talmud teaches that this was not a sign of respect but a sign of  removing oneself from all physical desires.  Then before Moses who heard the voice of God and recognized the voice of God, they would seek to hear the voice of God and learn God’s way of resolving the conflict.

 

Next time you find yourself with a conflict to mediate at home, work or in the church, it might not be a bad idea to find yourself a Moses one who has a proven record of hearing from God and is totally impartial, one who is totally removed from the conflict. Then spiritually remove your shoes (not physically, my gosh the problem stinks to begin with don’t add to it) in other words remove yourself from your physical desires, your desire to be correct or to defend your honor or reputation.  In other words your motives of self interest in resolving the conflict (to find personal peace, get rid of a personal headache or feel more secure in your position etc.).  The let your Moses listen to the matter and together come into agreement and Amen what you all discern is the voice of God and what He is saying.

 

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