In this portion we will take a look at the two sides of the coin of our suffering.

In Proverbs 3:1-12 we read "My son, don't forget my teaching, keep my commands in your heart for they will add to you many days, years of life and peace….My son, don't despise Adonai's discipline or resent his reproof' for Adonai corrects those He loves like a father who delights in his son."

The Rabbis call the portion of B'Chukkotai, "sakhar vaonesh" sniv rks the chapter of the recompense and punishments. It is also referred to as the chapter of "tochechah" hxkvt , the admonitions. Our sages have problems with this portion because they don't want to admit that our disobedience has brought so much suffering on our people as well as with the beginning of "IF" you keep my commands. It looks like God's love is conditional on our obedience of His commandments. God however is not saying that He does not love us. He is simply doing what any parent who loves their child would do. I am telling you what is good for you; if you obey you will be blessed but if you don't follow my commandments, my admonitions will come to pass, I assure you that the consequences will not be good. They are doing it out of love not hate.

In Leviticus 26 verses 14-45 are clear about what God would do to those who disobey His commandments. During the Babylonian exile, our sages knew that the intense hardship our people were experiencing was due to our own disobedience. We were kicked out of our land for 70 years due to our not obeying law of shmittah (the Sabbath year of the land) for 490 years.

Why is it that the minute something bad happens to us, we want to blame God? Did He not warn us time and time again?

On the other hand, self-righteous people will point a finger at someone who is suffering, saying "God is punishing you because you were disobedient". This is not always the case. Can any of us say that nothing bad has ever happened to us without just cause from our perspective, including sickness, financial difficulties, loss of loved ones? Is God to blame for all of these things?

There are too many circumstances to name here about good people who are simply taken advantage of by evil people who live outside the law and have no scruples. This is the consequence of living in a fallen world. Bad things do happen to good people. It is important to understand that there is always a reason that something happens to us. Rav Shaul (Paul) states in Romans 8:28 "…we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." Paul also said when he was given a "thorn in his flesh" and we are not sure exactly what it was, "Your grace is sufficient for me", demonstrating his full surrender to the God in whatever state he was in. Do you ever say to yourself, "that's not fair or life is unfair"? You grumble against God complaining, "Didn't I dedicate my life to him, surrender all and I am still poor? Again we have to ask ourselves "why do bad things happened to people who love the Lord?" Didn't Job suffer without having anything to deserve it? It was simply an attack from ha Satan. In the end Job was faithful to God in the midst of all he suffered even with his wife's advice to curse God and die. God's restoration would take place for Job and the whole world at the resurrection in the olam ha bah.

Some people have a nature which is highly emotional with the capacity to remember ills done to them for years. They are constantly reliving the pain of whatever happened to them in the past. Their stubborn nature refuses to simply let the guilty party off the hook. They pray and pray and wonder why God doesn't just take the pain away. In this case they are suffering the consequences of their own attitudes since God warned us to forgive and we don't.

Others blow up in the moment but forget instantly which can be a great blessing.

Where are you on this scale? Is your failure to experience God's love due to your lack of forgiveness?

God's admonition, his tochechah, his warnings are for our own good so that we will not have to suffer the consequences of our lack of obedience. Today we tend to make excuses for behavior which God does not condone by saying that everyone is doing it. For example, too many believers are open to the idea of a young couple living together before they get married simply because the times dictate that it is better that they get to know each other first. I am not a legalist but I do know that this is not permitted in God's commandments. We are accepting the world's standards instead of what God is asking us to do for our own protection. I am not saying this to point a finger because we are all sinners, no one better or worse than the other. A simple consequence of our sin is the breaking of our relationship with God. That is one of the reasons we suffer. But God is always ready to receive us back with his love, compassion and unending forgiveness. That is the yovel which Yeshua brings to us daily.

Here are my challenges for you today: Honestly ask yourself these questions:

1) What are the areas where I have deceived myself by thinking
     that I am good? May God take the blinders from my eyes!
2) What am I not willing to give up or surrender to God thinking
     that I can do it myself?
3) What is not allowing me to have a full, loving relationship
     with God?

If you have truly put all before God, He will use you in amazing ways.

If you are financially struggling because you don't work, you are the problem. But if you are struggling financially because everything you try hard at doesn't work out, God will bless you and provide for you in amazing ways.

If you tithe because you see it as being a spiritual lottery, you will lose but if you tithe because you love and want to honor God with your first fruits, He will bless you in amazing ways (Malachi 3). God's rewards are not limited to this world. He blesses us here and beyond.

Let us ask God today to search our hearts, for He knows us, He knows our walk and our thoughts, (Psalm 139: 23-24). We cannot hide from Him. He knows our suffering and He is waiting to bring to you the release you desire.

My prayer is that the Lord will reveal to you and take away whatever is bothering you so that you can walk fully in His Presence and experience the blessing of His yovel, jubilee, and His freedom.

If God is with me, who can be against me?

     Rabbi Percy Johnson
     Netanel ben Yochanan
     [nxy [b lantn

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     Kehilat She’ar Yashuv