Mattos Masei
In Parshas Matos the passuk states that Hashem commanded Moshe for Bnei Yisrael to take revenge against the Midyanim. The passuk ends “and afterwards you – Moshe – will be gathered in your nation” which refers to the death of Moshe. The following passuk states that Moshe spoke to the nation to get them ready for war against Midyan. Rashi points out that although Moshe was notified that after the war against Midyan he would die, he still commanded Bnei Yisrael about the war – immediately and happily. Rav Chaim Shmulevitz teaches that from here we see that Moshe’s fulfilling the will of Hashem was the most important thing, even more than his own life! For the entire essence of Moshe’s life was fulfilling the will of Hashem!
After Hashem commanded to fight, the passuk states that Moshe sent Bnei Yisrael with Pinchas. There is a pressing question: why didn’t Moshe himself go to fight? Rav Chaim Shmulevitz quotes Chazal who explain that Moshe said, “I grew up in Midyan; it is therefore not proper for me to go fight against them.” This is like the saying, “a well from which you drank, don’t throw in a piece of wood!” Rav Chaim Shmulevitz teaches that from here we derive a few lessons regarding hakaras hatov. First, we see that even many years later one is still obligated to repay kindness. Also, even if the kindness is repaid to others of the same country (here being Midyan), there is still a requirement of acting with kindness to them. Lastly, although Hashem commanded Moshe to fight against Midyon, Moshe understood that Hashem meant for him to send Pinchas in his place, because of Moshe’s obligation of hakaras hatov towards Midyan. This is like one of the thirteen midos that Chazal darshan the Torah with. With the “midah” of hakaras hatov, Moshe explained the command of Hashem to mean that he should not go himself but rather send Pinchas instead.
The Mesilas Yesharim writes that Hashem constantly assists each and every one of us, in pleasant and good times, and hard and difficult times. Things could have been much worse. May we think about and appreciate what people do for us, the benefit we have from the people around us, and especially Hashem’s kindness and help Who is the source of it all!
