Shalom, Mitspacha!
Justice - Sustaining Future Life
“When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; if you may eat from them, do not cut them down.”
- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 20:19
“For the tree of the field is man's food. Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, to build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it is subdued.”
- Devarim (Deuteronomy) 20:20
“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.”
- Mishlei (Proverbs) 13:22
YHVH's Torah teaches that righteous judgment considers not only the present moment but also what will sustain life afterward. Even during warfare, His people were forbidden to destroy fruit-bearing trees because their value extended beyond immediate circumstances. Food-producing trees represented resources that could continue nourishing people long after a conflict had ended.
This mitzvah teaches us that justice includes stewardship. We are not given permission to consume or destroy everything simply because it is available to us. YHVH calls us to recognise the needs of those who come after us and to preserve what can sustain life for future generations.
It is easy to focus on immediate needs and overlook the consequences our choices may have tomorrow. Yet responsible stewardship asks a larger question: What are we leaving behind for those who come after us?
May we learn to think beyond ourselves. Whether we are caring for resources, relationships, communities or the natural world, may we avoid unnecessary destruction and choose actions that preserve life and create a better inheritance for those who follow us.
Heavenly Father, YHVH, thank You for teaching us to consider the generations that come after us. Give us wisdom to use Your blessings responsibly, restraint to avoid needless destruction and foresight to recognise how our choices affect future life. Help us to preserve what can sustain others and to leave behind an inheritance of wisdom, righteousness, peace and faithfulness.
Baruch YHVH. Emet.
“YHVH bless you and keep you;
YHVH make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
YHVH lift up His countenance upon you,
and give you peace.”
- Bemidbar (Numbers) 6:24-26
Shalom until tomorrow.