Unlike Egypt – Ekev
The sidra says that Eretz Yisra’el is different from Egypt (Deut. 11:10).
In Israel the crops were watered by rain but in Egypt by foot, which presumably means by channels that store up the water of the Nile.
The Jewish commentators (Rashbam, Ramban, Sforno, etc.) say that the Egyptians get Nile water whether they are worthy of it or not, whereas in Eretz Yisra’el the rain comes if God decides that the land deserves it (Deut. 11:13-17).
People have to obey the commandments to earn the blessing of rain. However, there is a theological problem. Jews should not serve God for the sake of a reward of rain or anything else. They shouldn’t say, “I will behave well so that Heaven will reward me”. They should serve God for His own sake and if they do, all will be well.
