Parashat Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22) marks the beginning of Moses’ final address to the Children of Israel. Standing at the threshold of the Promised Land, Moses recounts the journey through the wilderness—not just as a historical review, but as a spiritual reflection.

What stands out in this parashah is Moses’ tone of humility. Despite having led the people for forty years, he does not glorify his role. Instead, he reminds the people of their mistakes, including the rebellion, complaints, and the episode of the spies—all rooted in fear, mistrust, and ultimately, ego.

Ego as the Root of Rebellion

Moses recalls:

You did not believe the LORD your God, who went before you… to show you the way you should go” (Deuteronomy 1:32–33).

Here, Moses highlights that their refusal to enter the land stemmed not from external circumstances, but from internal doubt and self-will—the essence of ego.

The Sefat Emet (Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger) teaches that the exile and wandering in the desert represent the inner distance created by ego. When one prioritizes their own desires, fears, or understanding above God’s guidance, they fall into spiritual “wilderness.”

Jewish wisdom explains that ego, or yesh, creates separation—from God, from others, and from our own higher selves. It makes us think we are the center, that we must control everything, and that we know better than divine wisdom.

Moses and Divine Consciousness

Moses, by contrast, is the ultimate model of Divine Consciousness. Earlier in the Torah he is described as:

“The most humble man on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).

He did not act out of self-interest, but from deep surrender to God’s will. The Or HaChaim commentary notes that Moses’ humility allowed him to be a “pure channel” for divine wisdom. His consciousness was not ego-centered but God-centered.

In Devarim, we see this clearly. Moses does not dwell on his own greatness or justify himself. He focuses entirely on helping the people learn from their past and prepare their hearts for the future—a true act of selflessness.

The Choice We Still Face

Parashat Devarim comes before Tisha B’Av, the day marking the destruction of the Temples—tragedies the Rabbis teach were caused by baseless hatred and arrogance (sinat chinam), again rooted in ego.

The Chofetz Chaim warns that when the ego reigns, unity is destroyed. But when we humble ourselves and operate from Divine Consciousness, we become vessels of peace, healing, and redemption.

As Moses says later in Deuteronomy:

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil… choose life” (Deut. 30:15, 19).

Thus parashah Devarim calls us to reflect on the journey from ego to Divine Consciousness. It reminds us that the greatest obstacles are not external, but internal—fear, pride, and resistance to trust. But when we, like Moses, embrace humility and surrender, we clear the way for divine guidance, unity, and blessing.

May we choose the higher path, silencing ego and opening our hearts to the eternal wisdom that leads to life.

For further Torah study on parashah “Devarim”, please enjoy the following illustrated video teaching and take your understanding to an even deeper level!   

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Study by Rabbi Isaac. © Assembly of Called-Out Believers.
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