Shabbos Table

God often places people in our lives to help us move closer to our purpose. These people come in all different forms, from family and friends to teachers and mentors.

However, some of these people may only be in our lives for a season and are not meant to stay forever.

These temporary relationships can be a source of both joy and pain but serve a purpose in our journey.

We may learn valuable lessons from them and grow in ways we never could have imagined. Embracing these seasons, appreciating what they bring, and allowing people to move on when it’s time can bring us closer to fulfilling our purpose.

Let’s look at how God used ten great men and in the Bible who all collected a profound lesson they can teach us.

Moses – perseverance and leadership. Moses learned these lessons through his many trials and tribulations, from being cast out as an Egyptian prince to struggling to liberate his people from slavery in Egypt and lead them through the wilderness to the Promised Land.

Esther – courage and using your role to make a difference. Esther learned these lessons by having to take personal, even dangerous action to protect herself and her people when surrounded by systems of evil.

David – resilience and learning from failure. David learned these lessons through his often tumultuous life path and eventually becoming a statesman.

Ruth – loyalty and the importance of community. Ruth learned these lessons by demonstrating unwavering loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi and forming a lasting bond with the Jewish people.

Joseph – forgiveness and letting go of resentment. Joseph learned these lessons through his years of slavery and imprisonment in Egypt, and then forgiving when meeting his brothers again after decades.

Sarah – trust and faith in difficult circumstances. Sarah learned these lessons through her long and trying journey to have a child, with a leap of faith and miracles finally granting her that hope.

Solomon – wisdom and seeking knowledge. Solomon learned these lessons through a lifetime of study, his leadership as king, as well as self-reflection.

Miriam – creativity and finding joy in expression. Miriam learned these lessons through being the epicenter and part of a rich way of displaying and connecting with divinity, which birthed some of the Torah’s most beloved songs and midrash.

Akiva – resilience and lifelong learning. Akiva learned these lessons through his ultimate redemption as a righteous scribe and activist after early life hardships.

Deborah – vision and the power of collaboration. Deborah learned these lessons by becoming a respected judge and prophetess, leading her people towards justice and repentance, and by partnering up with her colleagues and army commander.

These great men and women of Jewish history provide lessons through their own challenges and accomplishments. They show that with obstacles, come opportunities to learn and grow.