Illustration credit: Rivka Tsinman
Moshe tells Benei Yisrael that Eretz Yisrael will be filled with fruit, water streams, and valuable resources. But he warns them not to forget the source of all goodness.
וְאָמַרְתָּ בִּלְבָבֶךָ כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי עָשָׂה לִי אֶת הַחַיִל הַזֶּה׃
וְזָכַרְתָּ אֶת ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ
כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל
לְמַעַן הָקִים אֶת בְּרִיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃
You might say to yourselves, “My own power and the might of my own hand got me all this wealth.”
Remember God your Lord
Who is the One Who gives you the power to get wealth,
fulfilling the covenant that God promised to your ancestors, just like today.
- What do you notice? What is the main idea here? What words stand out?
- Why can't we take full credit for our accomplishments? What is the Torah trying to teach us about our own powers and the role God plays in the things we are able to achieve in our lives?
- How does that change your attitude about your accomplishments?
- When you’re feeling successful or proud, what are some ways to remind yourself to give credit to others who helped you - other people as well as God?
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