What makes someone great, really great? Many commentators say the answer to this question is hidden in the following verses from this week’s parshah:
“For the Lord your G-d, He is G-d of gods, and Lord of lords, the great G-d, the mighty, and the awful, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and dress.”
The beginning sounds very dramatic. Notice the adjectives and titles: “G-d of gods”, “Lord of lords,” “the great,” “the mighty,” “the awful.” Right after such words, we would have expected to read descriptions of great miracles, of changing the laws of nature, of something above nature.
But instead, we go down, and then further down, and find G-d occupying Himself with dress and bread for the orphan, convert, and widow. We find Him listening, loving, and caring, helping the weak in society.
There were nations that believed that G-d is so exalted that He is detached from the mundane world. He does not care about you and about what you do. It is too small for Him; He is above that. But the Torah teaches us the exact opposite principle here: Being the greatest means paying attention to the smallest of things.