Moses then reviewed with the Jewish people the deadlines for giving the annual tithes of their produce. Twice every seven years, during the holiday of Passover, the Jewish farmer was required to declare that he had fulfilled his obligation to tithe his produce, and to ask G‑d to bless the Jewish people in return.
Challenging Ourselves; Challenging G‑d
הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמְּךָ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וגו': (דברים כו:טו)
[The person who gives his agricultural tithes to the Temple says,] “Look down from Your holy dwelling, from the heavens, and bless Your people, Israel.” Deuteronomy 26:15

The person who makes this declaration is testifying that the Jewish people are devoted to G‑d passionately, beyond the limits of what would be dictated by logic. In return for this “irrational” devotion, we ask that G‑d treat us “irrationally,” as well – crowning our efforts with success that surpasses what would rationally be expected.

We should not consider such irrational devotion to G‑d to be voluntary or supplementary; G‑d requires us to constantly challenge ourselves, to prove to Him and to ourselves that our devotion to Him and to our life’s mission knows no bounds. In return, He showers us with His unbounded blessings, transforming even dire situations into revealed good.1