How to pray.

It was decreed by G-d that Moses, would not enter the Land Of Israel. Moses was not happy with this and longed desperately to enter the Holy and G-dly land. The Bible says, “(Moses) requested from G-d at that time….Please let me cross over and see the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan, this good mountain (of Jerusalem) and the Levanon (Holy Temple.)

The word in Hebrew used by Moses indicates a request from G-d, “for free”. Not because Moses felt, he deserved it, but just because.

When a person comes before G-d to pray, he might think G-d should fulfill his request because he behaves well, or maybe he did some “good deed”. And even he wasn’t the best person under the sun, wasn’t it G-d who created all temptations, obstacles and hardships to be a perfect person. And while we’re at it. Wasn’t it G-d who created us and the whole universe, so in truth he owes it to his creations to be responsible and live up to his duties to provide whatever is necessary?

However with this train of thought, why even pray and ask from G-d, to begin with? If I am owed whatever, then shouldn’t it be coming on its own? Especially, if it is due to us because of what we worked hard for and earned?

Now now, let’s cool it down a bit. First of all. If G-d created a system to reward us for behaving well isn’t that a kindness in itself that G-d granted us, that possibility? And even if G-d should live up to His responsibility, and take care of the world He created, He doesn’t always have to provide on a sunny day when the weather is just right. So perhaps, prayer covers these two scenarios. One, that G-d continues to provide us with the opportunity to be of service, and two, that when and how He does provide, it should be in such a way, that we enjoy His blessings.

Moses is teaching us two great lessons from this portion of the Bible. One. Never give up praying. Even after Moses was told by none other than G-d Himself, that it was decreed he wouldn’t enter the land, Moses knew never to give up praying. Even if we have prayed and asked thousands of times, “hope in the Lord, be strong and let your heart be valiant, and hope (again) in the Lord.” Never give up on hope and prayer.

Another thing. The proper approach to beseech G-d, is to come in humility. Never demanding. The way that works, is, as if leaning on G-ds kindness, a request. Not because we deserve, but because G-d is the ultimate in kindness and goodness.

A person must feel that he is undeserving and truthfully, even if he is Moses, there is never anything we as puny human beings can do to reach and compel G-d, master of the universe.  Moses himself, who represented G-d in taking the Israelites out of Egypt and went up to the Mountain of Sinai for 40 days to bring down the ten commandments, and all the other tremendous spiritual heights he reached, is described as “the humblest human on the face of the earth.”

Righteous people think, that had someone else been given all the opportunities they were granted they would most likely perform even better than themselves, and this made them feel undeserving. An empty vessel leaves room for more. A person who is arrogant and full of his own self-worth leaves no room for G-d and/or His blessings in his life.

The way that works in prayer is expressed most eloquently and powerfully by none other than the great King David. “Let My soul be dust to all……Do it for the sake of Your Name…do it for the sake of your Holiness…”