In Part 1 and Part 2 the question was posed if G-d not giving the Torah to the nations is discrimination. We said that contrary to the religions based on Judaism, Judaism requires a life altering commitment to it as opposed to just “believing in him”. The nations haven’t even kept the minimum commitment to the 7 Noahide mitzvoth. Click here for Part 1 and Click here for Part 2.
Continuing where we left off discussing the lack of minimum commitment to the 7 Noahide mitzvoth and the low moral caliber of the nations of the world when the Torah was given, the Midrash illustrates this very graphically: G-d came to all the nations of the world to offer them the Torah. Each nation refused it preferring a different sin. Here are the words of the Midrash:
“When the Lord wanted to give the Torah to Israel, He didn’t reveal himself to the Jews alone, He revealed Himself to all of the nations. First He went to the children of Esau and asked: “Do you want to accept the Torah?” The asked: “What’s written in it?” G-d told them: “Do not kill”. They responded: “Master of the World! Our father’s whole essence was murder! As the verse says: “And the hands were the hands of Esau” (Genesis 27, 2) and he was promised by his father (Isaac) “You shall live by your sword.” (Genesis 40)
“He then went to the children of Ammon and Moab and asked: “Do you want to accept the Torah?” They asked: “What is written in it?” G-d answered: “Don’t commit adultery”. They responded: “Master of the World, the main lewdness is to this nation as the verse says: “And the daughters of Lot became pregnant from their father.” (Genesis 19, 36)
He went to the children of Ishmael and asked them; “Do you want to accept the Torah?” They asked him: “What is written in it?” G-d answered: “Do not steal”. They responded: Master of the World the whole essence of our father was being a robber as the verse says: “And he will be a wild man” (Genesis 16, 12). There was no nation that G-d approached that wanted to accept the Torah until The nation of Israel accepted it.” (Midrash Vezot Habracha 343)
Let’s illustrate this with a parable: Imagine a father has 2 sons, one studies diligently and the other chooses to run to the street and spend his time with vagrants and thieves. The father wants to give a college education to his children but he can only give it to the diligent one. The father will just ask the wayward son to stay off the streets and not more than that.
That’s why the nations didn’t receive the Torah and are obligated only to keep the 7 Noahide Mitzvoth. But that doesn’t mean they must stay stuck in the same situation forever. After all, since the Torah became publicized around the world the world has made some moral advances compared to the past. Most nations have renounced idol worship and believe in monotheism, that G-d is One. Most democratic countries are attempting to pass laws that fight corruption and encourage protecting man’s honor and freedom. Though in actuality, people are sinning any way possible at least on a national level there’s an attempt to strive for a higher level of morality and pass moral laws.
This process is meant to move the world forward towards the ultimate redemption. The nations that previously didn’t merit receiving the Torah will merit enjoying the light of the Torah when the redemption comes. They will then realize the importance of the nation of Israel, and learn from them. This will be an era of peace and prosperity, both physical and spiritual where all the nations will together serve G-d:
“You will rise and have compassion on Zion for it is the time to favor it for the time has come… and all the nations will see the name of G-d and all the kings of the land (will see) Your honor, For G-d built Zion and we will see its honor… let this be written for the last generation and the nation created will praise the Lord… to recount in Zion the name of G-d and His praise in Jerusalem, when all the nations gather together and kingdoms to serve G-d. (Psalms 102)
This what the prophet says: “And it will be in the end of days, the mountain of the house of G-d will be established on the mountain tops and it will be higher than the other mountains and all the nations will stream to it and many nations will come and say “let us go up to the mountain of G-d and to the house of the G-d of Jacob so He can teach us of His ways and we will go in his paths, for from Zion the Torah will come forth and the word of g-d from Jerusalem. And he will judge between the nations and chastise many nations and they will beat their swords into shovels and their spears into pruners, a nation won’t raise a sword tio another nation and they will no longer learn warfare. (Isaiah 2, 2-4)
So we can see from this that even though morally speaking the nations are going at a turtle’s pace, G-d still won’t deny them their due and they too will merit taking part in the redemption and enjoy its benefits.
