Devar/5770/Lech Lecha
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And the Canaanite was then in the land (Gen 12:6)
When Avram left his home and family, he did not know exactly where he was going -- rather, he had faith in God, Who told him to go unto the land that I will show thee (ibid 1). And when he entered the Land, it was not empty and waiting for him and his family, rather "the Canaanite was then in the land". And God came to him and added that this was indeed the land "I will show thee", as it states: Unto thy seed will I give this land (ibid 7) -- even though the land was already settled.
After he went down to Egypt and came back up to the Land, it states: And the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land (Gen 13:7). And what is written immediately before that? And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle. Members of the same family could not dwell together as brothers. And in the meantime, their enemies grew and became numerous. When Avram initially entered the Land, nobody bothered him or any of his family. But after he left the Land and his family began to fight amongst themselves -- then the Canaanite's fear of them diminished. And what is then written? And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed (Gen 14:12).
This story repeats itself throughout the history of our people. Unity for a period, bickering and tension for a period. And always, the enemy waits for a time when the "voice of Jacob" is weakened, and his hands lose their strength. But despite all this, forever and always the promise of the Rock of Israel and their Savior, the Holy One blessed is He, eternally remains. Our Land, formerly the land of the Canaanites. By His word we dispossessed them of it -- and by His word were we exiled from it -- and we have been returned to it because of His love for us as in His prophecy to us: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. (Zech 8:7,8)
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