Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Eikev. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings.
There is a very interesting passuk in this week's Parsha warning Beni Yisroel when they come into the land not to forget how and who gave them all the goodness (8:17):
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִי֙ וְעֹ֣צֶם יָדִ֔י עָ֥שָׂה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה׃
And you think, ‘‘My strength and the power of my hand have acquired this wealth for me.’’
Rav Henoch Liebowitz asks how is it possible for a people that saw so many miracles while traveling through the desert could even possibly make such a mistake and take credit for these miracles? How could a group of former slaves untrained in warfare defeat all seven nations that were waiting for them, entrenched, in Eretz Yisroel waiting for their arrival? The only answer is that HaShem paved the way for these things to happen!
Rav Henoch answers that the yetzer hara can even force someone to deny obvious answers. Over time it would make sense to think that is was someone's intelligence or strength that brings about their successes in life. It's very easy to believe your own hype. This is why Moshe has to remind Beni Yisroel from this self-aggrandizement continuously. Their success is not through their merit but rather through the merit of their forefathers.
Additionally, it is only because of how bad the other nations were Beni Yisroel will take over as we see from a pasuk (9:4):
אַל־תֹּאמַ֣ר בִּלְבָבְךָ֗ בַּהֲדֹ֣ף יְהֹוָה֩ אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ אֹתָ֥ם ׀ מִלְּפָנֶ֘יךָ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ בְּצִדְקָתִי֙ הֱבִיאַ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֔ה לָרֶ֖שֶׁת אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את וּבְרִשְׁעַת֙ הַגּוֹיִ֣ם הָאֵ֔לֶּה יְהֹוָ֖ה מוֹרִישָׁ֥ם מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃
Do not think, when Adonoy, your God, smashes them before you, saying: ‘‘Because of my righteousness has Adonoy brought me to inherit this land,’’ and because of the wickedness of these nations is Adonoy expelling them before you.
On this the Ramban comments:
Now this is a cause for the destruction of these nations, but he gave no reason for Israel’s possession of the Land. Therefore he reverted and explained, Not for thy righteousness that you will be righteous in conduct, nor even because of the upright heart that you will have, but only because of the wickedness of these nations will they be destroyed, and because of [His] oath to your fathers will you possess the Land, for your sin cannot annul the gift He gave to your fathers since He gave it to them by an oath.
The purpose of this warning is to battle the inevitable reaction of the Yetzer Hara. Reb Yisroel Salanter gives similar advice to counter feelings of pride and arrogance. When it seems that we have accomplished something wonderful we need to remind ourselves of our deficiencies and not just give ourselves a pat on the back. Refelecting in this way will allow the truth to shine; it is only through HaShem's gifts we accomplish anything. (This is sort of similar to what we said last week and a reason not to be jealous of what other's have but we don't.) We will understand that logicly it is HaShem, not ourselves, who is the driving force behind our success. Instead of basking in the thrill of victory. let's praise and thank HaShem for all that He makes possible for us.
I'm reminded of a story I heard about Rav Aharon Lichtenstein (z"l) which I think really drives this message home. There was a member of his family who was not well and needed to have surgery. While in the hopital's waiting room the family was gathered together and saying Tehilim. Finally, the doctor came out and told the family that the surgery was successful. The family got up and was thanking the doctor and hugging one another. However, Rav Aharon stayed glued in his seat continuing to say tehilim. His family asked him if he had heard the news that the surgery was a success. He replied that he did hear the news. He was then asked if he did hear the news, why was he still saying tehilim. He answered that he had davened to Hashem when he was needing help; now it was time to say tehilim to praise HaShem and thank him for what was done.
Thank you for listening to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast. Until next time, may we all continue to learn and grow together.
Have a good Shabbos!
