“In the third month from the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt, on this day they arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai. They journeyed from Refidim, and arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai." (Exodus: 19:1,2).

The commentators point out a difficulty in the sequence of these pasukim. Presumably, it would have been more appropriate for the Torah to first mention Klal Yisroel's departure from Refidim, and only then to mention the day when Klal Yisroel arrived at Har Sinai. The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh offers a fascinating answer to this question. The Ohr Hachaim says that perhaps the sequence of the pesukim can be explained based on the principle found in the Talmud that "love overturns civilities" (ahava mikalkelet hashurah, Sanhedrin 105b). This principle tells us that love is so powerful that it can break normal boundaries of behavior. In this context, the Ohr Hachaim explains that Hashem and the entire creation were anxiously awaiting the day when Klal Yisroel would accept the Torah. Klal Yisroel's acceptance of the Torah would fulfill the entire purpose of creation, and elevate the world to what it was designed to be. With that being the case, when Klal Yisroel finally arrived at Har Sinai to accept the Torah, Hashem k'vyachol couldn't hold back his burning love and mentioned that Klal Yisroel finally arrived at Har Sinai, even though it would break normal rules of organization.

Based on this Ohr Hachaim, we can learn how powerful Hashem's love is for us and our Torah observance. Every day when we wake up to learn Torah and do mitvot, we must remind ourselves that we are assisting Hashem in the completion of creation. We need to remind ourselves of the love that Hashem has for us and His Torah and use it as a catalyst to strengthen ourselves in our Torah observance.

May we all be zoche to reciprocate the love that Hashem feels for us when we accept His Torah this coming Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom