Both the mitzvah to fear God and the mitzvah to love God appear in this week's parsha (6:13 and 5, respectively). These two mitzvot are clearly meant to be central to and transcend every aspect of our lives, and Rambam lists them as the 3rd and 4th positive mitzvot (just after the mitzvot of belief in God and recognition of God’s oneness).
However, understanding how these two mitzvot interact practically is more difficult. How can one both love God, wishing to come closer to God, and also fear God, wishing to distance one’s self somewhat? Are not these two emotions contradictory?
Rambam, in his halachik work the Mishna Torah (Yesodei HaTorah 2:2), explains that there is no contradiction. When one merely looks out at all of God’s creations and sees the wonders of this world, a person cannot help but love the creator of this incredible world. And when one ponders the immensity of these creations themselves, one cannot help but stand in awe and fear of the One with the ability to make them all.
Though these two emotions can find a way to coexist and God seems to encourage that co-existence here in Devarim, this is not always the case.
When the parsha recounts the event of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the nation trembles in fear of God and requests not to have God recite them all. Rashi adds that God is disappointed that the nation fears Him. Would they not prefer to learn the entire Torah from God Himself?!
Why does the nation not engage in ahavat Hashem (love of God)? Apparently love is the preferred emotion that God wishes to evoke. Rambam would seem to agree, as it is this emotion which ultimately brings on fear.
Earlier in the Torah after Akeidat Yitzchak, Avraham, the archetypal ‘lover of G-d,’ is referred as “yerei elokim” (a fearer of God) as his distinguishing characteristic. Is it truly just fear that distinguishes Avraham?!
Ramban defends Avraham, explaining that God knew that Avraham loved Him, but wanted to test his level of fear as both are necessary in the relationship with God. Ultimately, the Rambam writes, the purpose of all mitzvot is to instill a fear of God in each of us, but both love and fear are necessary together to perform proper service of God.
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