Actions or Miracles? - Parshat Bo

In the wake of recent anti-Semitic attacks worldwide*, there are people who wish for God to appear and perform miracles. "Let's just get it over and done with already," they say.

Apparently, God doesn’t work like that. He requires action. Sometimes, as in Noah, the action of requiring Noah to build an ark is directly and clearly related to the event, the flood He is planning. Sometimes it isn't.

In this week's Torah portion, Parshat Bo, God commands the people of Israel to paint their doorframe with the blood of a freshly-slaughtered kid of a goat or sheep.1 This will save their lives on the night of the plague of the firstborns. However, there seems to be no direct causal relationship between the two events - the action of the Children of Israel and God's passing over of their painted doors.

The Mechilta explains that the requirement for them to do so was a pro-active commandment to get the people used to doing Mitzvot. It is true that God could have performed a miracle and saved them without any effort on their part. After all, He brought the plagues on the Egyptians without any action on the part of the Jewish slaves. Perhaps, though, at the moment He wants to save them, He requires some action. A proactive demonstration of faith may be enough. The commentaries on this requirement are split as to what the causal relationship is. But there is no argument that some action needed to be taken.

In order to control our destiny we need to take action. In order to find meaning we need to search for it. We cannot nor should not rely on a miracle to save us. We can pray for one. But we cannot rely on it. "One is not to rely on the miracle" is what Chazal have taught us.2 God teaches us that we need to do something. We may be looking in the wrong places. Sometimes, it just requires of us to be "open" to the possibility of finding meaning as it is sometimes thrust upon us. At any rate, we are required to do something.

Business coaches, in guiding their clients, often advise "just keep on doing." Action will eventually lead to success. Calling, meeting, writing, advertising, etc. will eventually bring clients.

In our attempts to find meaning in our lives and then to act towards that meaning we need to continue doing. Through engaging in experiential, creative and attitudinal activities7 that are of value, as Viktor Frankl describes, we can reach that meaning and be in control of our happiness. But relying on miracles is not the way. We need to do.

*There were a number of violent anti-Semitic attacks in Europe.

  1. Shemot 12:3-13
  2. Shabbat 32a

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