Not to be taken for granted.
Parshah and its realization - Parshah Bamidbar - Jerusalem Day 5783
Rabbi Eliezer Haim Shenvald
Every year we read again from 'Sefer Bamidbar' and remind ourselves of an incredibly significant phase in our history. The 'Desert Period' was an intermediate stage, the people of Israel went through a process of preparation for their unique destiny in the Land of Israel.
Upon leaving Egypt, G-d led the people of Israel through the desert, the land of the Philistines rather than directly, without shortcuts:
וְלֹא־נָחָ֣ם אֱלֹקים דֶּ֚רֶךְ אֶ֣רֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֥י קָר֖וֹב ה֑וּא כִּ֣י אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹקים פֶּֽן־יִנָּחֵ֥ם הָעָ֛ם בִּרְאֹתָ֥ם מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְשָׁ֥בוּ מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃ וַיַּסֵּ֨ב אֱלֹקים אֶת־הָעָ֛ם דֶּ֥רֶךְ הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר יַם־ס֑וּף...
..."G-d did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although it was nearer; for G-d said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war and return to Egypt. So, G-d led the people roundabout, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds.” (Shmot 13:17-18)
It was evident that there was a need for a period of transition; from a nation of slaves to a free and independent nation, from submissive slavery to a nation of warriors, and from the 49th level of impurity to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai (Moreh Nevuchim' – Part 3:32). The desert period was a kind of 'educational series' and preparation for entering the Land of Israel.
That is why the people of Israel are referred to as those who came up "from the desert."
מִ֣י זֹ֗את עֹלָה֙ מִן־הַמִּדְבָּ֔ר
"Who is it that comes up from the desert"(Song of Songs 8:5).
וכי מן המדבר העלה אותם? והלא ממצרים העלה אותם!
…and he brought them up from the desert? But from Egypt brought them up!" (Midrash Zutta Shir HaShirim 3:6)
From this, "All the virtues and speech that Israel has are from the desert! And he also says, "Who is it that comes up from the desert? The glory of Israel is from the desert, the Torah is from the desert, the manna is from the desert, the quail is from the desert, the clouds of glory are from the desert, clothes with embroidered garments, and sandals of dolphin leather תָּ֑חַשׁ, and carried them, and took care of the families, and are loved by Hashem, all from the desert, as it is said (Devarim 32:10): יִמְצָאֵ֙הוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִדְבָּ֔ר [Hashem] found them in a desert region… And Yirmiyahu (31:2) also said: מָצָ֥א חֵן֙ בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר - Found favor in the wilderness…" (Siftei Kohen Bamidbar 1:1)
It is not for nothing that the desert was chosen to be the place where the people of Israel went through their formative 'Educational Series'. The desert is a 'place' with challenging climate that does not allow for existence and growth:
הַמַּעֲלֶ֥ה אֹתָ֖נוּ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם הַמּוֹלִ֨יךְ אֹתָ֜נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר בְּאֶ֨רֶץ עֲרָבָ֤ה וְשׁוּחָה֙ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ צִיָּ֣ה וְצַלְמָ֔וֶת בְּאֶ֗רֶץ לֹא־עָ֤בַר בָּהּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־יָשַׁ֥ב אָדָ֖ם שָֽׁם׃
"…Who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land nobody had traversed, where no human being had dwelt?” (Yirmiyahu 2:6)
In the desert the 'material existence' over time can only exist by a miracle. It focuses on spiritual development. In the 'wilderness' there is no infrastructure and basic necessities. Nothing in it is 'evident'. Everything that is in it, is the result of a great and extraordinary action. It is supposed to educate the individual and the nation to appreciate what they have and to notice that 'nothing is to be taken for granted'. The life conditions in the desert do not allow luxury and splendor. Everything is minimal and as is. It seeks to show how everything has a true value and does not need neither beautification nor glorifying or external decorations. There are no treats in the desert. The challenges of life in the desert are meant to forge and harden the 'desert people'. The period of life in the desert was also intended to equip the people of Israel with extraordinary fortitude and the ability to withstand challenges. Life in the desert existed from and within a miracle, therefore the consciousness of the existential miracle was deeply embedded in the depth of our personal and national being. It was designed to equip us with a special sense that makes us see the divine providence that accompanies us without which we would not exist. The thick screen that masks reality should not mislead us. Even though it has been a long time since we left the desert for our land.
In principle, the intermediate period in the desert was supposed to be short. The 'military' census at the beginning of the Parasha counts 'all those in Israel who are able to bear arms", to be part of the military force in preparation for the battle for the land:
לפי שמעתה צריכים לבוא לארץ ישראל ובני עשרים ראוים לצאת בצבא המלחמה... ולכך צוה הקב"ה בתחלת חודש זה למנותן.
"from this point on the Israelites were headed for the land of Israel, and all males over the age of 20 were enlisted in the army for that purpose… G-d issued the command to count the people so that one could keep track of how many soldiers there were and know if any would have become casualties in any battle". (Rashbam Bamidbar 1:1)
However, the desert crises, the worst of which was the 'sin of the spies', caused the desert period to be extended to forty years.
Precisely on the 75th anniversary of our dear and successful country, and 56 years since the liberation of Jerusalem, we must remind ourselves that the 'desert' is part of the landscape of our homeland. This memory is essential precisely when we get to live in an advanced and settled country where we enjoy a good quality of life. The routine might make us see all the good things as 'obvious', and we might forget that nothing in itself is 'evident'. Therefore, we must be thankful to Hashem, we must value and preserve what we have lest we lose it.