Bill Clinton and the First Commandment
Just a few days ago former president Bill Clinton declared that had Yitzchak Rabin “not lost his life on that terrible November night, within three years we would have had a comprehensive agreement for peace in the Middle East.” Not only would there be peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians but peace would’ve reigned throughout the entire Middle East!
When analyzing his statement, two major issues must be noted.
First, one would conclude that Israel is at fault for missiles being shot on Ashkelon and Sederot, not to mention the cities being bombarded every once in a while in the North. It is Israel’s fault that the Palestinian people democratically elected the Hamas as its leader. Instead of blaming the terror organization calling the shots from Gaza city, Clinton inadvertently blamed every subsequent Israeli prime minister for the current situation in Israel. The second implication is even more ludicrous and far more dangerous. “Peace would’ve reigned throughout the Middle East”. Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Lebanon and an almost nuclear Iran… the Jews could have stopped it all, but they didn’t. The Jews are responsible.
The first of the Ten Commandment states, “I am the Lord you G-d who has taken you out of the land of Egypt…”.
In the first commandment, the root source of all the commandments in the Torah, why mention Egypt? What is so important about Egypt that it is eternally connected to our faith in G-d?
After settling the Land of Israel, the prophets continually warned the people never to rely on the support of other nations. A secularist may look at the writings of Isaiah and call him a neutralist, similar to today’s Switzerland as he condemns all alliances with neighboring countries, but in reality Isaiah’s mantra is an eternal statement of faith– the only alliance Israel should ever make is with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
Jeremiah starts off the second chapter of his book relaying G-d’s love for Israel recounting the exodus from Egypt: “I recall for you the kindness of your youth, the love of a bride, your following Me into the wilderness, into an unsown land.” Though the beginning of the chapter starts off with Israel’s faith eliciting G-d’s love for His people, the end of chapter ends in quite a different tune. “How very much you demean yourself to change your way! You will be shamed even by Egypt, as you were shamed by Assyria! From this alliance also you will emerge slapping your hand to your head; for Hashem has rejected your guarantors- you will not succeed with them…” (Jer. 2:36-37).
The Ninth of Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar was introduced to the world through the sin of the spies. When dissecting the sin it is vital to note that after the spies came back with an evil report on the land, Joshua, Moses and Aaron all remain silent. Only after the children of Israel say, “Is it not better for us to return to Egypt” does the leadership of the desert get involved. Our judgment from above was only sealed when the Jews responded saying, “Let us appoint a leader and let us return to Egypt”. Then, and only then, does Hashem respond, “How long will this people provoke Me, and how long will they not have faith in Me.”
We are commanded never to return to Egypt. “…God has said to you that you shall not return by this way again” (Devarim 17:16).
Egypt, a constant powerful force in the times of the Bible and close neighbor to Israel was always a broken stick Israel tried to lean on. Isaiah in chapter 30 chastises Israel for always seeking to ally itself with Egypt: “Woe, O’ wayward sons – the word of Hashem- who takes counsel, but not from Me, and who accept a ruler, but not of My spirit, in order to add sin upon sin; who are going to descend to Egypt but did not inquire of My mouth, to seek strength in Pharaoh’s stronghold and to take shelter in Egypt’s shade. Pharaoh’s stronghold will be a shame for you and the shelter in Epyt’s shade will be a humiliation… As for Egypt, they will help with vanity and emptiness.”
Hashem always acts in accordance with our actions- mida keneged mida, measure for measure. With divine irony, the last hope for the Jewish people before the final destruction of Jerusalem was extinguished by none other than the King of Egypt, Pharaoh Neco.
King Josiah was the last righteous King of Judah. Scripture states that, “Before him there had never been a king like him who returned to Hashem with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his resources… and after him no one arose like him”. (II Kings 23:25). He was the shining light of the Jewish people who inspired a nation to return to G-d.
Although Josiah repented from his father’s evil ways, and even though the nation returned to G-d, the alliance with Egypt made year before Josiah’s birth sealed the fate of the Jews. For how can true faith be expressed when under the rule of another nation? Who are you really putting your faith in?
Mida Keneged Mida- Measure for measure, the nation which we relied on is the nation that will ultimately come and destroy us.
“I am the Lord you G-d who has taken you out of the land of Egypt…” For far too long Israel has seen America as its savior and shelter. The time is coming when we will stand alone… and it may be our closest ally who becomes our gravest danger.
