MOTIVES by Raphael ben Levi
Our Jewish sages tell a story of a king who entered a province and said to the people: ‘May I be your king?’ But the people said to him: ‘Have you done anything good for us that you should rule over us?’ He built the city wall for them, he brought in the water supply for them, and he fought their battles. Then he said to them: ‘May I be your king?’ And they said to him: ‘Yes, yes!’
Likewise, God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, divided the sea for them, sent down the manna for them, brought up the well for them, brought the quails for them. He fought for them the battle with Amalek. Then He said to them: ‘I am to be your king.’ And they said to Him: ‘Yes, yes!’
What truth were the sages communicating in the above parable? So often our responses to God are motivated by what we receive rather than what we give. “But” one may well ask, “What can I ever give to God that was not already received?” And here lies by implication the hidden question in response: do we love God more for what He has provided than simply for who He is?
He is indeed worthy beyond anything else in comparison. Were we to receive less than the scraps under the table, He would still be fully deserving of our love and allegiance. So the more so in the abundance of our salvation, and from the depths of our hearts, we say to Him, “Yes, yes!”
Raphael ben Levi
