The ancient sages certainly did. They saw it happening all the time, and they used stories, analogies, mashalim, to help us understand why.

Sifrei Devarim 318 gives us a perfect example: Imagine a farmer raising a calf. He pampers it, feeds it the best vetch, grooms its coat until it shines. Why? To prepare it for the hard work of plowing, of course! He’s investing in its future usefulness.

But then comes the day to put the yoke on the grown animal. Instead of accepting its role, the calf bolts. It rebels! It breaks the yoke, snaps the ends, and runs wild. Sound familiar? It's a stark image, isn't it? As Jeremiah laments (28:13), "You broke yokes of wood…"

So, what's the nimshal, the lesson being taught here? Well, the Sifrei connects this image to the periods of Israelite history marked by prosperity followed by…well, not so much.

The verse from Deuteronomy says, "You grew fat." But what does it really mean? The text offers a historical interpretation. "You grew fat" – this refers to the days of Yeravam. Then, "you grew thick" – that was in the days of Achav. And finally, "you were covered with fat" – all during the reign of Yehu.

It’s a progression. A fattening, a thickening, a covering. An overabundance, perhaps?

But the text doesn't stop there. It offers another, almost eerily similar, interpretation: "You grew fat" – in the days of Achaz. "You grew thick" – in the days of Menasheh. "You were covered with fat" – all in the days of Yehoyakim.

Two different sets of kings, two different periods of perceived prosperity, yet the same outcome implied. The people grew complacent, perhaps? Spoiled? They forgot their purpose, like that calf who rejected the yoke.

What are we to make of this? Is it simply a condemnation of wealth? I don't think so. It seems more about the dangers of forgetting our responsibilities, of allowing comfort to blind us to our higher calling. Of rejecting the "yoke" – the obligations and commitments – that give our lives meaning and direction.

It’s a powerful reminder that true growth isn’t just about accumulation; it’s about how we use what we have, about accepting the responsibilities that come with blessing, and about not breaking the very yokes that are meant to guide us. Are we tending our calves wisely? Or are we setting them up to break free in ways that ultimately harm us all?