Parshat Eikev: Ramifications of Our Actions
by Rabbi Lobel

(Deuteronomy; Chapter 8, Verse 1) "All of the commandment that I (G-d) command you today you shall perform, so that you may live and increase, and come and take possession of the land that G-d swore to your forefathers."

Rashi on the verse comments on the singular choice of words "all of the commandment." Rashi quotes the Medrash "If you have begun to fulfill a commandment, complete it. As it says, 'and the bones of Joseph that the children of Israel brought up from Egypt they buried in Shechem.' But was it not Moses alone who concerned himself with bringing the bones of Joseph up from Egypt ? Because he did not manage to complete the deed, and Israel completed the deed, the deed is attributed to them."

This is the verse hidden in the message when referring to G-d's commandments in singular tone (Sifsei Chachamim explaining Rashi).

The Tanchuma (6) is more elaborate. The Jews, when preparing themselves for the Exodus, were busying themselves with the spoils of Egypt while Moses was more concerned with the bones of Joseph. Even though G-d commanded the Jews to collect the riches of Egypt, as was promised, Moses was still involved with a deed that did not involve personal benefit (see also Yalkut Shemoni, Reish Teruma). Still, the deed of burying Joseph was not attributed to Moses because he did not complete it.

Moses surely would have completed the deed if he was allowed to enter Israel. It was only because he sinned at the episode of the "quarrelsome waters" was he punished by not entering Israel .

The ramifications of our actions reach beyond the action itself. For Moses, he was not just punished for entering Israel but also suffered by not receiving credit for bringing Joseph to his final resting place. Moses, an individual who showed selfless sacrifice for searching for the bones of Joseph was not given the credit of having the deed attributed to him. With every endeavor, we should remember that our actions often extend beyond the immediate horizon.