Of Crossing Over? Re’eh

I walk the line

Johnny Cash

Life comes with beginnings:  a new school, a new job, a new love of one’s life.

With the new comes the unknown.  While we may possess some rudimentary grasp of what is to become, the unknown remains an element with each and every new encounter.  What will the new engagement amount to?  A blessing? Or, perhaps, a curse?

Re’eh

In the Torah Portion Re’eh, the Children of Israel are on the verge of entering their Promised Land.  They, at the time, encamped on the other side of the Jordan River.  Their circumstance is on the precipice of culminating forty years of wandering in the wilderness.  The Children of Israel are soon to cross over to the new.; their settled lives in the Levant were to begin.

Prior to this transition, in Re’eh, they received a pep talk from their Coach and Prophet, Moses. Moses addressed the Children of Israel.

What guidance could the Prophet provide these stiff-necked people so that they would complete their task of taking up residence in the Promised Land?

In Re’eh, Moses cautions them: “See, I’m putting in front of you today, a blessing and a curse: the blessing when you’ll listen to the commandments of the Lord, your God, that I command you today, and the curse if you won’t listen to the commandments of the Lord, your God, and you’ll turn the other way that I command you today, to go after other gods, whom you haven’t known.”  Deuteronomy 11:26-28.

Each individual present was confronted with their new reality.  Take on the responsibility of following the commandments, or take adapt to the Canaanite world with all of its accoutrements, practices and idolatry.

Were the Children of Israel willing to bring with them their moral code obtained at Mt. Sinai and potentially set themselves apart as foreign?  Or, would they take on a laissez faire approach towards living and mold themselves in accord with Canaanite society?

For the Children of Israel, they had already formed an impression upon the Canaanite residents.    The scripture offers evidence that the Canaanites were fully aware of the Israelites.  Thus, what was new, was not entirely the circumstance.

In the Book of Joshua, in the tale of Jericho, Rahab, the city resident who assisted the Israelite spies, was keenly aware of the tales about the Children of Israel.  She perceived her fellow city residents as melting in fear of the Israelite presence based upon their deity’s miracle- parting of the sea- and their military success.  Joshua, Chapter 2.  This tale is a cautionary tale that if someone is entering a “new” situation, innuendo or one’s reputation may enter into the fray.

Impressions

New impressions can also form impressions of others. For instance, a child showing up to class filthy and unkempt may tell us more about their parents than the student.  Thus, in crossing over for the Children of Israel, the Israelite’s behavior was not only a reflection upon themselves.  It was also a reflection upon their Deity.

Reputations can also impact first impressions.  For instances, a teacher aware that a child had outstanding parents could form negative impression on the student if they had behavioral problems.  The impression that there must be something wrong with the child plays in one’s mind.

With the Children of Israel, reputation was to play a role.  How loyal and respectful were they to their deity who had brought them salvation and success?  Certainly, their disrespect, failure to comply with commandments, would reflect poorly upon them as individuals.

Leaving Behind

Crossing over also means that something is left behind. There is no return. Metaphorically, their Jordan River crossing into the Promised Land was the moment of no return.  It was their great unknown.  It was a test of their ability to traverse a land of giants, fortified cities and impressively sized produce.

In our personal lives, we have our moments of crossing of the line.  We start a new school, a new job, or move into a new community.  There is much unknown in starting anew.  There is no guarantee, however, that they will be met with open-mindedness.  People, whether they know it or not, can carry with them some fame or infamy into the new.  People can be judged by stereotype.  Thus, the new has something to say that can impact interaction’s favorability.

Our Crossing Over

One can cross the line with personal rules and guidelines geared toward success- i.e. do the homework every night or show up to work on time.  Or, one can enter a new space and adopt the habits or practices of those present- i.e. show up tardy to classes.  In doing so, there are risks involved.  The habits and practices of the new may be detrimental or destructive.

Like the moment in Re-eh, there are decisions to be made.  To follow rules or commandments with the belief and understanding that they will result in blessing or good fortune.  Or, cross the line and potentially enter a disparate belief system.

In Re’eh, it was a world of idolatry and what followed the idolatry.  In present times, there is a multitude of belief systems.  Some of these belief systems wish to dominate, dictate and control.  They seek to strip one of any of their past beliefs.  What do these systems yield for their practitioners? Other systems are more benign or offer the allowance for individuality to flourish.

Conclusion

In sum, we are challenged by novel moments.   Do we bring with us our moral code?  Or, do we embrace the values and beliefs of those who we encounter at the new surroundings?  Do we accept and adopt values contrary to those of our own core?   These questions, of course, according to Re’eh, attach to the concepts of blessings and curses.

Be well!!

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