Parshas Ki Sisa (Parah) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
ועתה אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך הודעני נא את דרכך ואדעך למען אמצא חן בעיניך ... (לג-יג)
Moshe Rabbeinu requested to comprehend the ways of Hashem. The Gemara in Berachos (7a) explains that this refers to the old age question of "מפני מה צדיק ורע לו ורשע וטוב לו" - why do hardships befall a righteous man while its smooth sailing for the wicked? In the hakdama to the Sefer Oneg Yom Tov he expounds on the posuk, "כי ישרים דרכי ה' וצדיקים ילכו בם ופשעים יכשלו בם" as follows: Moshe asked the above query and Hashem responded. Nevertheless it's still a baffling situation. But a yid, a tzaddik has full faith in all that transpires and knows that in the next world everything will be clear. The wicked on the other hand use this phenomenon to continue on their estranged and evil ways. Ultimately, the actions of Hashem are just and straight. Thus, "כי ישרים דרכי ה' וצדיקים ילכו בם ופשעים יכשלו בם".
I saw in another sefer from one of the tzaddikim the following teitch in a posuk here in the parsha a bit later which complements this vort. Hashem told Moshe "וראית את אחורי ופני לא יראו" - you can see My rear but not My front. He explained in light of Moshe’s earlier question: you can see and comprehend things in hindsight "אחורי" but "ופני" to see ahead when you experience hardships, "לא יראו" - this one cannot grasp.
My chavrusa told me a different vort, unrelated, but also a time related pshat. As Purim is still a vivid memory, the Mishna in Megillah states: "הקורא את המגילה למפרע לא יצא" - One who reads the megillah out of order isn’t yotzei. He explained that if a person lives in the past - always saying, “I could’ve, should’ve, would’ve, if only, etc., then "לא יצא" - they will not succeed in life. The focus of a yid must always be on the present and future.
Let us be mechazek in our emunah in all that Hashem does and focus on the present while serving Him faithfully!