This is the last torah portion before we enter the land of Israel and the end of this book (or chapter in the desert). In this torah portion Matot Masei, there is a summary of the 42 places the Israelites stopped on their journey from leaving Egypt to when they arrive at the land of Israel.
"It's not about the destination, it's about the journey."
The Baal Shem Tov says that these 42 stops in the desert parallel the 42 stages of a persons life. To draw these parallels I will summarize them into the 3 most notable stages of life.
Birth - our own individual birth can be paralleled to the nation's birth when it had its exodus from Egypt.
Liberation - our personal liberation from our parents and assuming our own responsibility to develop and grow (Bar/Bat Mitzvah). This can be paralleled to when the Israelites were liberated to the desert where they had to develop and grow and learn many lessons and decide who they wanted to be.
The crossover - The final journey is to the spiritual Promised Land for the Isrealites, or In our person lives, to Olam Haba (afterlife/ World to Come)
In between these stages there are many personal journeys we go on and life experiences we must have to exercise our free will and become who we are supposed to be before we can enter the promised land. We must learn gratitude, to trust Hashem’s timing, that Hashem is the one who provides, that Hashem Is the the one who protects us, that Israel will always prosper against its enemies. And along the way If we mess up, we can do Tshuva to return to our path and keep going.
One of the best lessons is that everyday there are miracles being done!
That is why God tells Moses, “‘Write down all the places through which Israel journeyed, so that they might recall the miracles I wrought for them, guiding them safely through human and natural dangers.”
The energy we can tap into this week is to realize that many of the moments we take for granted are actually miracles if we only stop to notice. Our thoughts create our reality- and if we’re thinking of all of the things we’re grateful for and the miracles in our daily lives, we will be granted to see more of them.
Take inventory of your day, week, month, or year and just meditate on some of the things that are miracles - the fact that you have your health, you can move your body, 5 senses, food, water, you’re safe, you’re loved, maybe a car almost hit you but you turned just in time, you have a baby, family, community etc.
In essence, the Torah is saying that there is inherent value to journeys/ life experiences.
And it is interesting that the Torah never tells the story of the Jewish people entering the land of Israel. It leaves that for the book of Joshua. The Torah seems to be emphasizing the perspective that, “It’s not about the destination, but about the journey.”
Bonus:
42 also happens to be a very significant number in judaism - and throughout other faiths as well.
The first 42 letters in the Torah are the story of creation
There will be 42 generations from Abraham to Moshiach
Gd’s secret name has 42 letters
Multiple Jewish prayers have 42 words
This ongoing usage of the number 42 indicates Gd’s eternal presence in our people’s history. Gd was not only present with our ancestors during their 42 encampments in the wilderness, but continues to be with us as we recite these 42-word prayers. Just as Gd’s presence remained with them, so too does it remain with us.
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