What God Wants
Would it be helpful if we knew exactly what God wants from us? In Balak Haftatrah, in Chapter 6, Prophet Mikhah asks a question… How should one come before Hashem? Should one come with an olah, a burnt offering, yearling calves? Does God want thousands of rams? Ten thousand rivers of oil? Do I offer my child for my transgression, for the sin of my soul? It’s not a real question… None of these things is what is truly essential or even being considered as options. This is rhetorical. What Almighty expects are none of the things the prophet threw out as options.
In Micah 6:8, we are given an answer. Hagid lekah ma tov uma ADONAI doresh mimekha “ You were told, o mankind what is good and what Hashem seeks from you.” Ki im asot mishpat “Only to do justice”, God wants us to be fair and equitable. We are to act in a way that would bring about justice. Veachavat chesed “love kindness”, this one does not really translate because Chesed also means faithfulness, piety, fidelity, favor, grace, and several other things. It’s hard to understand this precisely. And the third thing Vechatz’neah lekhet im Elocheykha “Walk in humility and with great care with your God.”
Interesting? This is what God wants, according to the prophet. You might have thought he wanted a gift, or some grand gesture, or even worship. No. justice, love of kindness, faithfulness, and walk in humility with God. I think this is something we all should be able to come up with. But we need to think of what that might look like in our lives. So it’s time for me to offer you some suggestions. I will focus on the last point.
Learn how to Walk and Never Arrive. You don’t need a destination. And no, I am not talking about a treadmill. Walking with God means simply living with God every day. It means constantly involving God in everything you do in your life. Be satisfied with a journey, not the destination. The time we spend with God, the effort we invest in the study of his ways. Just being with those we love is worth it, even if we do not accomplish any of our goals or cross things off our list. That’s walking carefully, that’s walking in humility. A treadmill is good for our health, but walking with God is good for our souls. It’s not about achievements. Sometimes it’s just about the journey.