We read in Parashat Hukat of the time Beneh Yisrael complained while traveling in the desert. This was at the end of the forty-year period they spent in the desert, and they grew impatient. They complained to Moshe about the conditions, and said they were “fed up” with the manna.
Hashem was very angry, and He punished the people by sending poisonous snakes which killed many members of the nation. The people begged Moshe to intervene on their behalf, and he prayed. Hashem commanded him to make a metal image of a snake and place it on the top of a tall rod, and anybody who was bitten by a snake would look at this image and be instantly cured.
What is this story all about? Why did the people suddenly start complaining now, and why were they punished specifically with snakes?
To understand what happened, we need to consider the context.
For forty years, Beneh Yisrael were led by three outstanding, righteous figures – Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam. In the final year, Miriam and Aharon both died. Everyone knew that Moshe would soon pass away, as well. Adding to the anxiety, the nation had been very close to entering the Land of Israel, but they were then forced to turn around and take a lengthy detour. The people became jittery. Their future was uncertain. They simply did not know when they would enter the land, who would lead them, and how the process would unfold. This made them anxious, resulting in their losing their patience and their composure.
Hashem punished them with snakes as a reminder of the snake in Gan Eden. The snake convinced Adam and Havah to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, the tree called עץ הדעת – “the tree of knowledge.” Eating from this tree, the snake said, would give Adam and Havah knowledge. They would know everything.
This is a human weakness that is not often talked about – the desire to know. In community life, we all want to know when somebody we know is dating someone, buying a new home, or starting a new job. We want to be the first to know. People are constantly checking their phones for the latest updates, because they feel a need to have all the latest information as soon as it’s out.
This is true about the future, as well. We crave the security of knowing what the future holds. Before an election, we want to know who is going to win. When things are happening in the world, we want to know the outcome.
Like Adam and Havah, we want to eat from the עץ הדעת, to have knowledge about everything. But this is wrong.
Hashem commanded Moshe to make the image of snake and put it somewhere high. The people’s attention would be drawn heavenward, so they would think about Hashem. They were to realize that they didn’t need to know everything, because Hashem was taking care of them. When and how would they enter the Land of Israel? At the time and in the manner that Hashem decided. That’s all they needed to know. They didn’t need to know anything else.
In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was speaking with a prominent travel agent in the community. As travel restrictions began to be imposed, and the future was unknown, I asked the agent what it was like.
“It really doesn’t matter,” he said. “I’m doing my best. The rest is up to Hashem. I am not worried.”
I am jealous of this man’s emunah. I wish I could be so calm and serene in situations of uncertainty.
This is the lesson we can learn from the story of Beneh Yisrael’s complaints and the snakes. The saying goes, “knowledge is power,” but this is not always true. Of course, we need to stay informed, especially in times of crisis. But at a certain point, we need to place our trust in Hashem, the only one who knows what the future holds, and the only one on whom we can rely. With this kind of faith, we can live happily and joyfully even when we don’t know what will happen, trusting that we are in Hashem’s very capable hands – which is all we really need to know.