Moments where the choices seem equally appealing, or equally daunting. This week, in Sifrei Devarim 53, we find a powerful exploration of just that – the choices we face and the illusions that can cloud our judgment.
The verse from Deuteronomy 11:26 sets the stage: "Behold, I set before you this day blessing and curse." But the text doesn't stop there. It anticipates a potential challenge, a question that might arise in our minds. As it is written in Deuteronomy 30:19, "The life and the death have I set before you, the blessing and the curse." Could it be that God has simply presented us with options and left us to our own devices, free to choose whatever we want?
That's where the next part comes in. The text emphasizes that it is written (Ibid.) "and you shall choose the life, you and your seed."
The passage then uses a vivid analogy to drive home the point. Imagine a man sitting right there at that crossroads. Two paths stretch out before him. One begins smoothly, invitingly, but ends in a thicket of thorns. The other? A thorny, difficult start, but ultimately leading to level ground. The man wisely advises passersby: "That path that looks so easy? It's a trap. A few steps of comfort, then pain. But this thorny path? Push through, and you'll find ease."
Think about that for a moment. How often do we fall for the allure of the easy path, the immediate gratification, only to find ourselves ensnared later on?
The Sifrei Devarim then draws a parallel to the lives of the wicked and the righteous. "Thus did Moses speak to Israel: You see the wicked prospering — For two or three days they will prosper in this world, and in the end, they will be cast away." It's a potent image. We see those who seem to disregard morality, flourishing in the short term. But their success is fleeting. As Proverbs 24:20 reminds us, "For there is no (good) end for the wicked one." And Koheleth 4:1 adds, "Behold, the tears of the oppressed (in Gehinnom)." Even the fool, content in his ignorance, ultimately "eats his own flesh," as Koheleth says in 4:5. Their path, as described in Proverbs 4:19, "is pitch darkness."
But what about the righteous? What about those who struggle, who face hardship and adversity? The text assures us that their suffering is not in vain. "They see the righteous suffering in this world. Their end is to rejoice." Their difficult path leads to a goodly end, "to benefit you in your latter end" (Deuteronomy 8:16).
Koheleth 7:8 offers a beautiful sentiment: "Better the end of a thing than its beginning." It's a reminder that perseverance, even through trials, ultimately leads to a more fulfilling outcome. And as Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims, "For I (the L-rd) know the thoughts that I think concerning you … to give to you a (goodly) end and a hope." There’s a divine plan, a promise of hope, even when the present seems bleak.
Finally, the passage concludes with a burst of light. "Light is sown for the righteous one" (Psalms 97:11), and "The path of the righteous is like shining light" (Proverbs 4:18). The righteous path, though perhaps difficult at times, ultimately illuminates the world and brings joy.
So, the next time you find yourself at a crossroads, remember the wisdom of Sifrei Devarim. Don't be fooled by the fleeting pleasures of the easy path. Consider the long-term consequences, the ultimate destination. Choose the path that leads to light, to righteousness, to a goodly end. It may be challenging, but the reward is immeasurable, and the journey itself will illuminate your way.