Timeless Torah

There was once a king who ordered the Jews and the Karaites (a breakaway Jewish sect) to designate representatives for a disputation so that he could determine which religion was the more authentic.
The Karaites sent their most learned sage, attired in beautiful garments of silk, while the spokesman for the Jewish community appeared dressed in everyday clothes.
When the Jewish representative entered the throne room he removed his shoes and held them under his arm, the monarch became exceedingly angry at this strange behavior. The Jew immediately explained:
“Your Royal Highness, when the Jews stood in the presence of the King of Kings they honored Him by removing their shoes, as is written in our Bible.”
The ruler was very impressed, but still asked, “Why do you carry the shoes under your arm?”
“We learned this practice from a sad experience,” the Rabbi explained. “Before we approached Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, we took off our shoes, but when we returned, they were gone. The Karaites had stolen them.”
The elegantly clad Karaite spokesman, prepared to debate on the subject for which he had been invited, was shocked to hear this false accusation. Unable to restrain himself, he began shouting:
“That’s a lie! When the Torah was given on Mount Sinai there were no Karaites in the world.”
The Jew replied, “I rest my case, Your Majesty.”
Since Mount Sinai and every subsequent Shavuos thereafter, our people have heard G-d’s call. That this event has been occurring for three thousand, three hundred and forty five years consecutively should allow us the luxury of simply stating, “I rest my case.” Nevertheless, as this week’s Torah portion, Nasso, makes clear, everyone is given freedom of choice.
Although the Divine voice is described as having been tremendously loud at Mount Sinai, when G-d spoke from the Sanctuary it was miraculously cut off at the entrance and went no further. Moses was then compelled to enter the Temple in order to hear it.
Why the voice of G-d had to be cut off at the entrance and could go no further is so that man serves his creator out of free choice. If the voice of the Almighty had gone forth into the world, repeatedly and regularly, then the entire planet would have become one great “Sanctuary”. Under such conditions of repeated revelation man could not choose to go contrary to G-d’s wishes. Obviously, G-d did not wish to make it easy - even for Himself.
His message, however, can be heard. Go to a synagogue and listen to the weekly reading of the Torah. You have the choice, He has the lesson, and I...well, I rest my case.