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In this week's Torah portion, Moses tells the Jewish people additional commandments they need to follow. And then he implores upon them to:
"...do what is good and right in the eyes of God." (Deuteronomy 12:28)
A LIFE LESSON
It seems rather obvious for Moses, the leader of the Jewish people, to tell his followers to do what is right in the eyes of God. But this really isn't as much of a rhetorical statement as one might think.
We live in a society where we care enormously about what other people think about us. Whether you're aware of it or not, the things you say, the clothes you wear, and the places you shop are influenced largely by the perception you want to give to others. This is precisely why in public we might act one way towards someone, but in private - outside the watchful eyes of those we so much want to impress - we will act in a completely different way.
When Moses told the Jews to do what is good and right in the eyes of God, he was teaching us all a life-changing insight: God is everywhere. He's right next to you as you're reading this. And He "follows" you when you walk to your car, and He sits right next to you at work. There isn't a cubic foot of space in which God is not completely and totally present and aware of everything this is being said and done. Remember, when it comes to God's presence, there's no such thing as privacy. God is always right there.
In New York City's Time Square there exists a massive television screen called the JumboTron. Thousands of people - some as far as 20 city blocks away - can see whatever images are displayed on this screen. What if you lived your life as though it was being shown live on the JumboTron? How much different would you act if everything you did was being broadcast in real-time on this giant screen?
But that's exactly the powerful message that God's teaching us. We are on this screen and God is observing everything.
So instead of doing what looks right in the eyes of your co-workers and friends, listen to the words of Moses. Concern yourself with impressing the One who truly wants you to become great and strive to do what is good and right in the eyes of God.
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(21) Anonymous, August 30, 2016 12:57 PM
Excellent article and very well written! Thanks for posting!
(20) Anonymous, August 10, 2015 1:10 PM
Great point! Thanks for posting!
(19) Anonymous, August 22, 2014 11:53 AM
Great!
This is great! Thank you so much for posting it!
(18) Anonymous, August 22, 2014 11:46 AM
Excellent!
This is so excellent! Thank you so much for posting this!
(17) Audrey, August 3, 2013 2:54 PM
Toda raba...
... for this wonderfull insight. Sjalom sjabbat from a not-jewish person.
(16) Patrick O Lewis, August 2, 2013 1:29 AM
Wow
This is a great insight worthy of every attention.It simply indicates that we should all do whatever we do to our fellow men with the conscience that God is watching.I am really blessed by this post.
(15) Frederica Steller, August 18, 2012 5:15 PM
No matter where we are, what we do/say; God is always there.
I loved this article so much, I Emailed it to a friend! And, she was the one who told me about this web site. She likes it, too, and she's not even Jewish.
(14) Grace Soshana Nili Gulko, August 23, 2011 6:42 PM
Thank you so much, its very true, we are always on Hashem's stage, i'm very happy that i'm not the only one who feels this way. We should always conduct ourselves properly where ever we are privately or publicity,because we are always being watch by Hashem's camera and that makes me feel very safe and comfortable knowing this. Thank You.
(13) Enoch Basker, August 22, 2011 1:03 PM
This is very good articles.
(12) batya harris, August 5, 2010 5:28 PM
also should be good in eyes of man
"may we find favor in the eyes of G-d and man" (from Grace after Meals). - we must still make sure that the mitzvot we do - whether man to G-d or man to man - are done in gentle/respectful ways when other people are involved or watching, no?
(11) Laura, August 2, 2010 10:07 PM
This is very true. Thank you for posting this.
(10) Anonymous, August 2, 2010 5:55 PM
God is watching
I am comforted knowing God is watching, it is man watching from satellites, camera's, drones,etc. that concern me. Man don't see us the way God sees us and that is distrubing.
Elizabeth, August 12, 2012 5:57 PM
Agree completely
Agree that it's the man-made things watching us and it's getting more so---very disturbing indeed.
(9) Scott Granowski, August 14, 2009 10:36 PM
All God All The Time
Thank you for your insight. My early years were spent in an unhappy perception of God watching me all the time for errors, profanity, imperfections, etc. The idea that God is everywhere in all things facilitates a connection that is full and adequate and unfolding, rather than idealized, static and perfectionistic.
(8) Chaya, August 10, 2009 4:33 PM
I find it comforting. If G-d is everywhere, then I'm part of everywhere and part of the Ground of All Being. It's not that I'm being watched - it's I'm part of all that is. I've been taught what is expected of me and I do what I can how bad is that?
(7) RobvanDijk, Amsterdam,Holland, August 28, 2008 1:28 AM
Am I the only one that thinks that that is, besides comforting, also a bit disturbing? Are you all so righteous? I'm not, I'm sorry to say.
(6) Norma, August 25, 2008 9:19 AM
Thank You!
Indeed. Thank you [Aish] Adam Lieberman for your fulfilling and truthful thought i.e. "God is Watching". Could we just give a minute of our thought to imagine the disappointment of The LORD watching what bad people are doing with our gifted-Life? My prayers to The LORD, to kindly bless His good people and enlighten the other's mind and soul so they can value what You, Our LORD, has [and still] given to them . May you be blessed!
(5) Anonymous, August 25, 2008 6:39 AM
do the right thing!
I accept what You wrote. Can I ask why, when and how more than to see it is possible that peoples that move not in right way as prescricted must to pay for his hostility? Thanks a lot.
(4) Catherine Manna, August 5, 2007 1:54 PM
Great article! and so true!
This is a fantastic article! This is very very true every word of it! Your wright, God is watching us on a "Jumbo tron" very faith stengthening words! "How God feels" is how we should feel. THats why he said so wisely to impress all of his words and commands into our heart, every moment and opportunity, that we can, it can only do good for us. It will help us to understand how we can better follow this counsil, and bring us closer to him "...do what is good and right in the eyes of God." (Deuteronomy 12:28) If we love God with our whole heart and whole very self, this will be much easier to do. thank you !!
(3) Anonymous, August 17, 2006 12:00 AM
good article. straight to the point. thank you.
(2) Michal, August 16, 2006 12:00 AM
Wonderful, that this is true. Nearly forgot it
It made tears flowing from my eyes, when you said: "He is right next to you, as you are reading this..." Because I felt lonely and all alone.But it is not true. Hashem is there.No, I am not holy, not doing always the right thing, but may the whole world see me as I am - the only thing that counts is, thas HE sees me constantly. Thank you for especially this part of your short article!Be blessed!
(1) Chana, August 13, 2006 12:00 AM
This is just what I needed to read today! Thank you for making spirituality be available a "mouse click" away. Kol Tov.