42 Journeys
The Torah recounts Israel's 42 stops along the path from Egypt to Israel. We get the sense that these encampments were not random, but strategic destinations, ordained by the Creator for an unseen purpose. What can we learn from such a perspective that applies to our lives today?
In the book of Numbers, we recount the winding path Israel followed on their way to the promised land. A trip that might normally take days was extended to 40 years!
The Purpose of the Journey
A popular opinion suggests that this 'wandering' was a period of punishment.
Jewish tradition suggests something different: that every stop on the way served to nudge them closer to their spiritual goal. The generation of the exodus needed to undergo an important transition.
In addition to leaving the context of slavery, they would no longer be able to rely on miracles. In the land, their new life of freedom would rely on their active participation and obedience. This was an overwhelming psychological and spiritual shift, not one to be made overnight.
Yet, throughout that time, the text tells us that G_D took care of His people, and they followed Him to the best of their ability.
42 Journeys
Discussing the text in depth, the Sages count that the people of Israel made a total of 42 journeys throughout this period.
Rashi² states:
Why are these stations recorded here? In order to make known the loving acts of the Omnipresent: that although He had decreed against them to make them move about and wander in the wilderness, you should not think that they wandered and moved about without cessation from one station to another station all the forty years, and that they had no rest, for you see that there are here only forty-two stages.
The suggestion is that the Creator was not punishing, but instead leading the people along a path of growth.
Notice how the Torah recalls each and every one of these journeys. Where humans might be tempted to wax nostalgic, and omit the bad times - the Torah looks at them holistically. The purpose is not to bring up old transgressions, but to show how these were indeed part of this important journey.
Each stop represented a critical life lesson that shaped who the nation would become.
Raising the Sparks of Holiness
Also, not how, short of a few tragic learning moments, the Torah is relatively silent for the better part of 38 years of the 40. This may indicate that there was very little to report.
From waking up in the morning, praying, going about their work, raising kids, or caring for livestock - they did so in a manner that sought to obey and seek the Creator.
From a higher perspective, this period of time positively impacted the world around them, spiritually and physically. The Kabbalah calls this raising the sparks³.
It is not just for our own benefit. The Zohar teaches that the quality of our lives greatly impacts the world in seen and unseen ways⁴. Our habits, conversations, and thought processes amount to something that is often outside of our perception.
If trending toward holiness, we can bring repair. If we lean into impurities like arrogance, selfishness, or anger - we contribute to impairment and incoherence.
The Number Forty-Two
The number 42 has a life of its own in the mathematic and scientific domains⁵. From ancient Egyptian rituals to its appearance in modern novels, the number 42 has caught the attention of many for quite some time.
The occurrence of the number 42 itself is significant in the Biblical text, often pointing to the creative faculties of G_D. The incredibly deep tradition of the 42-Letter Name of G_D is captured in the prayer we meditate upon at the beginning of Shabbat, known as the Ana BeKoach⁶. Thus, 42 signifies a new creation and wholeness.
Soul Journey
The Torah is hinting at a greater lesson for all of us to consider. The 42 journeys represent the trials and milestones of our own soul journey.
The times we fail become just as, if not, more important than the times we got it right. Each stop teaching us some new life lesson that prepares us for the next.
Like the nation of Israel, no matter how winding and confusing the route, the Creator is always with us, guiding and directing us precisely through critical experiences for our development.
In other words, life is a journey. It is not the final destination that shapes us, but all of the trials, stops, and even the ordinary day to day experiences that grow us.
A closing thought from Rabbi Aryeh ben David⁷:
"The Zohar understands the recounting of these 42 stations on a mystical level. According to the Kabbalah, G_D brought the world into being by virtue of the first 42 letters of the Torah, the 42 building blocks or stages of creation.
The 42 stations of travel in Numbers echo the genesis of the world and reflect a second process of creation, one that lasted 40 years.
In recounting the 42 journeys, Moses now tells the children of Israel that in fact, a new creation has occurred. The creation of the nation has paralleled the world."
In the end, these 42 journeys of our own soul shape us into a new creation (Briah Chadash).
Notes:
¹ 40 Days of Spiritual Metamorphosis
² Rashi on Numbers 33:1
³ Elevating the Sparks, and Tikkun Olam
⁴ Zohar 3:122a
⁵ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/for-math-fans-a-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-number-42/
⁶ https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/ana-bkoach-a-portal-to-creation/
⁷ "Around the Shabbat Table: A Guide to Fulfilling and Meaningful Shabbat Table Conversations." Rabbi Aryeh Ben David