PESACH – EMUNAH
The Ramban at the end of Parshas Bo explains that the reason so many mitzvos we do are “Zecher l’yitzias mitzrayim” is to give us constant and daily reminders that Hashem controls the world by recalling the Nissim that occurred during Yetzias Mitzraim because the open miracles of then teach how to understand the hidden ones of today. The number and types of mitzvos that are commanded for this purpose gives us an insight into just how much reinforcement we need. They are, shema in the morning and evening, daily wearing of tefillin and tzitzis, mezuzah on every doorpost, Shabbos every 7 days, 8 days of pesach, the korban pesach, prohibition against eating chometz, 7 days of Succos, and many others. The Ramban adds that the severity of punishment that violators of these mitzvos receive adds a dimension to our understanding of how important their message is.
The question though is why is it so difficult for us to believe and why do we need so much reinforcement? Is there something about our nature which makes it so tough for us to believe in Hashems abilities or is the concept of emunah very elusive and hard to grasp?
In Parshas Vayeira an argument ensues between the sons-in-law of Lot and the Malachim who came to save them from the imminent destruction of Sedom. The Malachim reported that it was time for them to leave for Hashem was planning to destroy the city by the next morning, but the sons in law refused to go. They responded with bewilderment “how can it be that Sedom, a city that is filled with people who are partying and joyous, be destroyed on the morrow, it can’t happen!?”
The flaw in the argument of the Lot’s sons in law is obvious, what does today have to do with tomorrow? Just because downtown is bustling NOW, doesn’t mean that Hashem can’t destroy it TOMORROW?!
This chazal highlights a very basic human tendency that people have a hard time believing that what is in front of their eyes will change and be different. It is almost as if we are programmed to assume the statuesque until shown otherwise.
It is this tendency which is also really at the root of our difficulty in Emunah. Although we intellectually understand that Hashem can do anything, for the good and for the bad, it is very hard for us to believe other than what we are currently experiencing. We might know that Hashem can just bring the geula, but it is met with a lot of resistance.
The Chofetz Chaim is quoted as saying that although people are witness to death all around them and should therefore believe that it will happen to them as well, nevertheless they don’t because they think they are the exception. Obviously, the Chofetz Chaim doesn’t mean to accuse people of being delusional but rather since all they know about their own selves is that they are alive, they have a very difficult time moving past that assumption and lead very different lives because of that.
The more we appreciate and understand what we are working against, the more we can make real changes in our Emunah. May we be zoche to use this Yom Tov properly and internalize its messages.
Rabbi Anton
HAVE A WONDERFUL SHABBOS AND A GUT YOM TOV!
Adapted from a shmues given by Rav Shaul Opocyzinski Shlita
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