{"id":72346,"date":"2020-03-25T16:47:26","date_gmt":"2020-03-25T14:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=72346"},"modified":"2020-03-25T16:52:36","modified_gmt":"2020-03-25T14:52:36","slug":"dont-overreach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/dont-overreach\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Overreach!\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"72346","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":62571,"related_cahpter":"445","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"But wasn\u2019t Baruch as good as Joshua and Elisha who made the grade?\r\n\r\n","content":"

In the only prophecy directed at Jeremiah\u2019s scribe, the \u201ccurtain is pulled back\u201d on one of Tanach’s most significant secondary characters, Baruch ben Neriah. Cast in the role of Jeremiah\u2019s \u201csecond,\u201d Baruch \u201ctasted\u201d what it is like to be a prophet when Jeremiah had been forced into hiding:<\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/b>So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote down in the scroll, at Jeremiah\u2019s dictation, all the words which the LORD had spoken to him. Jeremiah instructed Baruch: I am in hiding; I cannot go to the House of the LORD. But you go and read aloud the words of the LORD from the scroll which you wrote at my dictation, to all the people in the House of the LORD on a fast day\u2026 Baruch son of Neriah did just as the prophet Jeremiah had instructed him\u2026 (36:4-6.8)<\/span><\/p>\n

However, according to the Rabbis, the biblical text in chapter 45 depicts Baruch as being deeply depressed when he realizes that his opportunity to follow in his master\u2019s footsteps, will be thwarted by God\u2019s allowing the Babylonians to destroy the First Temple, and carry off the remainder of the Jews into exile: “You say, ‘Woe is me! The LORD has added grief to my pain. I am worn out with groaning, and I have found no rest’\u201d (45:3).<\/span><\/p>\n

Mechilta D\u2019Rabbi Yishmael (Bo, Masechet D\u2019Pischa, 1, #91), understands Baruch as possessing an awareness of Jewish biblical history, when he asks:<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is my fate different from that of all the other disciples of the Prophets? Joshua served Moses, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him (see Numbers 27); Elisha served Elijah, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him (see II Kings 2). Why is it otherwise with me?<\/span><\/p>\n

God responds:<\/span><\/p>\n

“And do you expect great things for yourself? Don\u2019t expect them. For I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh\u2014declares the LORD\u2014but I will at least grant you your life in all the places where you may go\u201d (45:5).<\/span><\/p>\n

Mechilta interprets this poetically: <\/span><\/p>\n

“<\/span>Of what avail is a hedge where there is no vineyard, or a shepherd where there are no sheep? \u2026”
\n<\/span>Prophets only prophecy for the benefit of the Jewish people, who now will no longer be living on their land, and God will remove His presence from the Holy of Holies, the Temple, and the land.<\/span><\/p>\n

While personal ambition can sometimes lead a person to achieve great things, in this case, according to Malbim on v. 5, God told Baruch that he should be careful not to \u201coverreach:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

“\u2026Do not seek \u201cmore\u201d than I am prepared to allot to you, so that My personal intervention will justifiably attach itself to you to save you from the general evil that will come. As a result, you will be able to go anywhere, protected by God, and you will come under the shadow of His wings.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Trade in your aspirations of becoming a prophet and appreciate that you will survive!<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":62874,"id":62874,"title":"1kings19-ElijahandElishaj","filename":"1kings19-ElijahandElishaj.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings19-ElijahandElishaj.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/leadership-family-first\/1kings19-elijahandelishaj\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"1kings19-elijahandelishaj","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":62873,"date":"2019-09-13 12:42:54","modified":"2023-04-30 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