The core idea? We operate within a framework where God, of course, knows everything. But we don't. And that's the crucial piece. We act "on their level in accordance with their freedom of choice..." The text emphasizes the importance of our choices, our agency. We're not puppets dancing on strings of destiny. We're active participants in our own lives. When we strive for something and achieve it, we're usually just focused on the joy of accomplishment. We don't necessarily realize that our success might have been known all along. "Since foreknowledge of what is going to happen is withheld from people, if they do something and succeed, they are not aware that what they were going to accomplish was already known." It’s like the universe is letting us play the game without showing us the rule book in advance.
But what about when we try and fail? Does that mean our efforts were pointless? Absolutely not! The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah makes a profound point: "if they make an effort to do something without being able to accomplish it, they still receive a good reward for their effort, whereas had they known they were not going to succeed, they would not have made the effort." The effort itself holds value. It's the striving, the pushing, the trying that matters. Imagine not even attempting something because you knew you would fail. What a loss! What a missed opportunity for growth, for learning, for simply being present in the act of creation.
So, what does this all mean for us? It's an invitation to embrace the unknown. To act with intention, to strive for our goals, and to find meaning in the effort itself, regardless of the outcome. Because ultimately, whether we succeed or fail, the journey, the choices we make along the way, are what define us. And even if the divine already knows the end of our story, we get to live it, write it, and imbue it with our own unique spirit.