If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him—then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. — Deuteronomy 11:22–23

The Torah portion for this week is Eikev, which means “therefore” or “heel,” from Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25, and the Haftorah is from Isaiah 49:14–51:3.

In this week’s Torah reading, we are directed to “love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him.” We can understand what it means to love God and what it means to hold fast to Him with unwavering faith, but according to the Jewish understanding of this verse, we are also meant to “walk with God.” That’s a bit more difficult to understand. How are we as mortal, finite beings, meant to walk beside a transcendental, infinite God?

The Sages explain the mechanics of the spiritual and physical world. In the physical world, in order for two things to be close to one another, they simply have to be placed in physical proximity to each other. In this way, even opposites can share a space. Fire can be placed next to ice, good people next to sinful people, and so on. However, when it comes to the spiritual realm, physically placing two things next to each other is no longer an option. So how do two entities become close in the spiritual realm? By being similar to each other. In the nonphysical reality, we are closest to that which we are most similar to.

This is why the Talmud, Judaism’s oral law, teaches that in order to walk with God, we must become like Him. We must imitate our Creator. The Sages teach, “Just as He clothes the naked . . . visits the sick . . . comforts the mourners . . . and buries the dead . . . . so should you.” Elsewhere, the Sages suggest, “Just as He is called ‘merciful,’ so should you be merciful; just as He is called ‘gracious,’ so should you be gracious . . . just as He is called ‘righteous,’ so should you be righteous . . . . just as He is called ‘pious,’ so should you be pious.”

The more we become like God, the closer we become to Him.

What a wonderful way to live! As we go through our days we must constantly strive to do things God’s way. We must be merciful, kind, just, and righteous. And you know what else? God isn’t stressed all the time. He’s never in a rush. God is always at peace, letting everything unfold in exactly the right way in exactly the right time.

This is how we need to lead our lives every day all of the time. It takes practice and it’s a lifelong challenge, however, the reward is tremendous: “then . . . you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you.” We will be able to accomplish things that would otherwise be beyond us. “No one will be able to stand against you” (v.25) – and no one will be able to stop us!

How might you walk together with God today?