A Miracle Beyond Imagination
The mahn (manna) was a miracle beyond our imagination! It poured down straight from heaven without any effort and could taste like whatever the Jews wanted it to. They didn’t need to do any cooking or baking; they just collected their daily portion and they had all the sustenance and nutrients that they needed.
Complaints and Consequences
However, despite its wondrous properties, Klal Yisrael (the Jews) complained about the mahn, resulting in an outbreak of deathly snakes. Why was this punishment specifically carried out through snakes? Furthermore, to stop this plague, Moshe was instructed to place an image of a copper snake and those who looked were healed. What was the significance of this?
Snakes in the Wilderness: Rabbi Hirsch’s Explanation
Rabbi Shamshon Raphael Hirsch brings a fascinating explanation. Usually, a wilderness is infested by snakes and can prove extremely dangerous. All this time, in His great Mercy, Hashem (God) miraculously protected them from this danger. Now, since they complained, they didn’t merit this privilege and therefore were attacked by these dangerous snakes.
We see this idea in the Torah’s choice of words regarding this punishment. The verse states:
וישלח ה’ בעם את הנחשים השרפים
Rabbi Hirsch notes that the most accurate meaning of the word וישַלֵּח is “And He released” referring to the snakes that were there all this time and were just released. Furthermore, the verse specifies that Hashem sent “הנחשים השרפים -These fiery serpents” referring to the ones that were already there.
A Wake-Up Call to Appreciate Hidden Kindness
Therefore, the Jews’ punishment was specifically carried out through snakes, to alert them of the great dangers that had been lurking all this time, and that it was only due to Hashem’s great kindness that they weren’t harmed. Really Hashem was looking out for them each step of the way and there was no real reason to complain.
Why the Copper Snake? Breathing with Awareness
This also explains why Moshe placed a copper serpent on a pole. It was in order to remind those who were bitten that really, they were surrounded by fiery serpents all this time, and were only saved due to a series of incredible miracles. This would prompt them to appreciate the numerous miracles that they experience on a constant basis, to the extent that they would appreciate each breath, realizing that they could only breathe because Hashem allows them to.
They would internalize how each second, they were protected from danger and were graciously given the gift of life. They would feel like they are the most fortunate people in the world! As Rabbi Hirsch writes, one doesn’t need to win the lottery or to be exceptionally intelligent, every second we are given the most priceless gifts! Hashem is constantly keeping us healthy and allowing us to live, enjoying His spectacular world! These feelings of appreciation helped atone for their sin, that stemmed from a lack of appreciation.
Hashem Is Always Protecting Us
This is such a powerful message we can apply to our own lives. We don’t know how many attempts our enemiees make to harm us, yet their plans get foiled. Nor do we know of all the other potential dangers that are lurking. We say in Hallel:
הללו את ה’ כל גוים שבחוהו כל האומים
Praise Hashem, all nations; laud Him, all peoples…
The Brisker Rav (Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Halevi Soloveitchik) notes that this is a reference to the fact that when Mashiach comes, the nations will praise Hashem for all the times their plans were foiled when they tried to harm us! They will realize how we are Hashem’s beloved people and even though we were in exile, He was always looking out for His cherished nation.
Gratitude for Hidden Healing
Furthermore, Hashem is constantly protecting us from dangerous substances, helping us stay healthy. Three times a day, we recite the brachah (blessing) of Refa’einu, asking Hashem to cure us. Yet many of us are healthy—so why do we need to pray for a refuah sheleimah (complete recovery)?
Rabbi Yaakov Emden explains that there are dangerous substances constantly in our bodies, and in His great Mercy, Hashem removes them and heals us. So, we are expressing our gratitude that Hashem is constantly healing us, even without our knowing!
Asher Yatzar: Appreciate the Priceless Gift of Life
Similarly, Asher Yatzer concludes with the words “רופא כל בשר ומפליא לעשות –Who heals all flesh and performs wonders.” We are thanking Hashem that harmful substances are safely disposed, ensuring that we are healthy without us even being aware! (Derishah OC 1:6)
Rabbi Hirsch notes that when we train ourselves to appreciate how much Hashem is looking out for us, we will express gratitude for each breath that we breathe! After all, Hashem allows us to breathe each second, giving us the priceless gift of life. This is all due to His incredible love for us. There are so many processes that occur to allow us to breathe, and we need to try our best to appreciate this as much as we can.
Ten Thousand Dollars for Air
An 87-year-old man was hospitalized with a breathing condition and was placed on a respirator. Baruch Hashem (thank God), two weeks later he recovered and was able to breathe independently. The hospital personnel told him that his condition was critical, he was given a respirator, but now that he had recovered, he would have to pay for all the expenses. The bill totaled to ten thousand dollars.
The man broke down in tears. Emphatically, the hospital staff said they will give him a deduction. However, he kept on crying. The hospital staff then said that they would cut the cost in half since the man seemed so distressed.
He told them that he wasn’t crying over the cost, but because he realized how tremendous the gift of breathing was. When he had to have assistance breathing, it costed ten thousand dollars for two weeks yet his entire life he was able to breathe freely! He realized how thankful he should be to Hashem, that he could breathe freely without any pain.
Parshat Chukat: The Serpent and the Gift of Every Moment, By Rabbi Daniel Shasha, author of “Living Appreciation”
