Cyberdov

The usual pattern of Benei Yisrael in the desert is that they disobey God in some way, God gets angry, punishes them, and ultimately forgives them (usually after intervention by Moshe). So I noted with surprise that there is a different approach taken regarding Shabbat and the Manna. Here, the people are told not to collect Manna on Shabbat (Shemot 16:26); some do so anyway (16:27); God lectures them (16:28-29); and they stop (16:30)! End of story. No plagues, no threats to wipe them out. Essentially, the people are allowed to come around on their own, without being frightened into compliance.
I wonder why this approach is not employed more often, especially in light of its apparent success.

If you belong to the Delafield Jewish Center, you may be interested in my homiletic conclusion (following up on a previous post)…

Today being Groundhog Day, perhaps there is a lesson for us. What is Groundhog Day about? We look to the groundhog for instruction - if he tells us it is winter, we should accept it; if he tells us it is spring, we should accept it. If we show up with furry hats and the groundhog indicates spring - does he visit a plague on our heads? If we show up bareheaded and he indicates winter - are we punished? No, the groundhog goes about his business , and simply deigns to inform us, with his characteristic dignity, of the appropriate way to behave. It does happen that, devoted accolytes though we are, we sometimes overlook the groundhog’s message, and fail to pay him the homage he is due. That has indeed occured this year. And yet, by appearing here on Groundhog Day, with no fuss or ceremony, in a way we indeed show that we have inculcated this lesson - to accept the decrees (of God, fate, nature, or what have you) with equanimity and faith.

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