Take the writings attributed to Philo of Alexandria, for example. Now, there’s some debate about whether these are actually from Philo himself, but the collection known as “The Midrash of Philo” grapples with weighty ideas. One particular passage touches on this very notion of fate.
Some folks, it says, have interpreted Moses' words as suggesting that everything unfolds according to a pre-determined schedule, a specific hour, an appointed time. Think about that for a moment. If everything is fated, do our choices even matter? Are we just puppets dancing on strings of destiny? It's a pretty unsettling thought, isn't it?
This idea arises from the verse in Genesis 15:17, describing Abraham's vision: "Behold there was a smoking furnace and torches of fire, which passed through the middle of those divisions." What is that all about?
This dramatic image, a smoking furnace and torches of fire weaving through divided animal carcasses… it’s intense! And it’s easy to see why some would interpret it as a sign of an immutable, preordained future.
But is that really the message? Is the Torah, at its heart, saying we have no free will? That our lives are just playing out a script written long ago? That's a question worth pondering, isn't it? It makes you wonder what it all means and how those ancient Rabbis interpreted it. What do you think?