Vaeira: L’ ilui Nishmas Avraham Zev ben Yaakov – Dr. Abe Chames
The Chofetz Chaim on Parshas Va’eira
In this week’s parsha the pasuk states,
“Va’ani aksheh es lev Pharaoh” - And I shall harden Pharaoh’s heart (7:3).
How could Hashem lock the doors of teshuva, repentance, before Pharaoh? Surely the doors are not locked even before the greatest sinners?
The Chofetz Chaim answers that certain types of sinners receive help from Shamayim to repent. Indeed, we daven for such Heavenly help each day: “Hachazireinu bis’shuva sh’leima l’fanecha” - Influence us to return in complete repentance, before You. There are, however, other sinners whose sins have reached the limit and who are unworthy of receiving help from Shamayim to repent; instead they must inspire themselves to repent.
Hashem was telling Moshe to inform Pharaoh that if he continued in his wicked ways, Shamayim would punish him and he would not receive any assistance to repent. Indeed, the pasuk continues, “Ki ani hich’badti es libo” - For I have made his (Pharaoh’s) heart stubborn (Bo 10:1). Pharaoh still had his bechira, free choice, to repent; however, he no longer had the luxury of Divine Assistance to help inspire him to that end.
This was the mistake that Acher (Elisha ben Avuyah) made when he heard a Bas Kol announce, “Children, go do teshuva, except for Acher.” Acher concluded that his teshuva would not be accepted when really the Bas Kol meant that he would not receive Divine help towards his repentance.
It is all too easy to become overwhelmed or depressed when the Yetzer Hara gains the upper hand and leads us to sin. This insight of the Chofetz Chaim teaches us that teshuva is possible and that if we put our right foot forward, we will receive invaluable help from Shamayim.
Good Shabbos! |
