God ‘Moves About in Your Camp’
Yael Eckstein | August 17, 2021
For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you. — Deuteronomy 23:14-15
Each week in synagogue, Jews read through the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy. The Torah portion for this week is Ki Teitzei, which means “when you go out,” from Deuteronomy 21:10–25:19.
One of the biggest differences between my current life in Israel and being raised in the United States is the security situation. Just a few months ago, we experienced yet another flare-up when Hamas terrorists began firing rockets at Israeli civilian population centers. Thankfully, in the words of Psalm 121:4, “he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” God protects Israel and gives strength and success to the Israeli army, time after time.
With God’s protection and help, Israel’s army has not only been extremely successful, it is also extremely moral. It is a great point of pride for all Israelis that many military experts, such as retired British Colonel Richard Kemp, have referred to the Israeli army as the most moral army on earth. Israeli soldiers and commanders go out of their way to protect the lives of innocent civilians, even behind enemy lines.
God ‘Moves About in Your Camp’
This week’s Torah portion describes how God is with the army of Israel. The Bible does not simply say that God protected the soldiers or granted them victory. Rather, God actually “moves about in your camp.” It is as though the Bible is placing God right there with the soldiers, joining them as they prepare and enter the field of battle.
Living in Israel, with ever-present enemies who seek our destruction, we must never forget that God’s protection and love for Israel is for a purpose. God wants us to spread the light of faith, justice, and love to the entire world. This is what the covenant of Abraham is all about. By guarding the morality of our military, Israel invites God’s protection on the soldiers, and on the entire nation.
Let’s pray for the welfare of the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). May God give them strength and protection as He “moves about” in their camp.