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    What God wants – Ekev

    One of the most famous Biblical questions asks, “What does the Lord want of you?”

    The question has two versions. The better known one is in Micah 6:8. What does God want of you, asks Micah. His answer: “Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God”.

    The other version of the question is in this week’s reading (Deut. 10:12).

    The answer the Torah gives is to fear God, to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve Him and keep His commandments.

    Why doesn’t Micah give the same answer as Moses? In his own way he does. Moses establishes the principle: fear, love, serve and emulate God. Micah gives three examples: justice, mercy and humility.

    Borrowing a comment of the Talmud (Ber. 33b), we can ask, “Are these such easy things to observe?”

    The basic ethical traits which Micah lists are so demanding that you can never be certain you have really fulfilled them. Not that this excuses anyone from trying.

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