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Moses’ journey is first and foremost a lesson in devotion to the Creator’s will. He led the people of Israel as commanded, fulfilling every directive with unwavering faith. Yet, as they reached the border of the Land of Israel, the Creator informed Moses that he would not enter. Instead, his life would end on the mountain. From a human perspective, this might seem cruel or unjust. Even Moses himself, as described in the Midrash Rabba, pleaded with the Creator, saying, “I have walked so much—let me at least touch this land! I was walking and dreaming of entering it.”
But Moses’ journey was not about reaching a physical destination. It was about fulfilling the Creator’s will at every moment, with every step. This was the purpose of his life—to devote himself entirely to the Creator’s plan. The dream of entering the Land of Israel was secondary to the higher goal of complete self-annulment to the Creator’s guidance.
From our limited perspective, it might seem harsh that Moses was denied entry. However, the Creator’s actions are always perfect and aligned with the ultimate purpose of human correction and spiritual ascent. What Moses’ example teaches us is that our task is not to aim for achieving personal aspirations, even the most seemingly spiritual ones, but to align ourselves fully with the Creator’s will.
Moses’ situation also raises the question of sin. It is written that the sins of the people, and even Moses’ own sin, prevented him from entering the Land. As humans, sin is inevitable. We cannot avoid sin, for it is part of our nature. However, sin is no mere stumbling block. It is rather a stage in the process of correction, i.e., of our transformation from our inborn egoistic self-interest to an altruistic intention to bestow upon others. Through our mistakes, we learn, grow, and draw closer to the Creator, whose quality is unconditional altruism and love. The purpose of sin is to reveal our distance from the Creator so that we can take steps to bridge that gap.
Today, humanity finds itself in a similar process. We are undergoing what might feel like punishment—myriad problems and crises that seem harsh and unrelenting. But this “punishment” is not about retribution. It is a correction process, designed to change us, to awaken us, and to bring us closer to the Creator. It is an opportunity for correction, a way to align ourselves with our life’s ultimate purpose.
The key is to understand that everything comes from the Creator and serves our ultimate benefit. While feeling that we are in a kind of purgatory, we should understand that this state is an opportunity to develop adhesion with the Creator. The goal of our creation is reach adhesion with the Creator in every moment, to see His guidance in every event, and to trust that even the most challenging experiences are part of His plan for our correction.
Moses’ story reminds us that the ultimate fulfillment is not in reaching a destination or achieving a specific outcome but in devoting ourselves entirely to the Creator’s will. When we learn to annul ourselves, to follow the Creator’s guidance unwaveringly, and to see His hand in everything, we fulfill the purpose of our creation. This is the higher “Land” that we should strive to enter—a state of complete alignment with the Creator’s plan.
Based on KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” with Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman on September 1, 2024. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.