Knowledge is Power - G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER.
Deut. 20-8, “ And the officers shall continue to speak to
the people and say, "What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted?
Let him go and return to his house, that he should not cause the heart of his
brothers to melt, as his heart."
Rashi – Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki (1040
-1105) says,” we are talking about a soldier who is afraid of the sins he
has done.” Since it is an accepted fact, that the Israelites were far less in
numbers and in fighting expertise than all the lifelong warriors they needed to
face off, their only chance of winning in war, is the blessings of G-d.
Some knew very well they didn’t deserve these extraordinary blessings and were
justifiably afraid to enter battle.
Rabbi Dovid Morgenstern of Kotzk (1809 – 1873)
explained this a little deeper, and answered a self-asked question. So, why
couldn’t the soldier ask G-d for forgiveness, and he will surely be
forgiven? The Torah tells us, that at any time a person asks G-d
sincerely for forgiveness, it is granted. And he clarified;
If a soldier went to war, consumed by the thoughts of his
shortcoming, and feeling guilty and unworthy, he wouldn’t be in the ideal
frame of mind or in the right emotional state of joy and trust in G-d to ask
with a full heart for repentance, and was therefore not suited for war.
Rabbi Avraham Mordechai of Gur (1866 – 1948) takes this even
further, and says that this above mentioned problem of not being able to
completely and fully repent has an even worse dimension to it.
If a soldier went to war and would be preoccupied by
all kinds of worries, and was unable to detach himself entirely from his
regular life, so he could focus entirely to the task at hand, if an arrow
should hit him and he would die with all these thoughts racing through his
mind, without the chance to ask G-d for forgiveness with a full heart, “there
is nothing worse, than a person who passes on to the other world, and didn’t
take advantage of the opportunity in this world, and in this lifetime, to ask
G-d - ONE LAST TIME - for forgiveness.”
It is this possibility and its eternal affect on the
person’s soul that we are so concerned about, even more than the compromise in
his fighting abilities.
G-d grants life to each of us for the purpose of
fulfilling a G-dly task. To be “His” soldier, to repair this world and help
bring it under the influence of G-dliness and spirituality. This is true in
our own personal lives, and regarding our responsibility to the world around
us. In this mission we face many enemies and road blocks.
Maimonides – Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon (1138-1204) says the
following.
……To whom does the phrase 'Is there a man who is afraid or
faint-hearted refer to? The phrase should be interpreted simply, as applying to
a person whose heart is not brave enough to stand in the throes of battle.
Once a soldier enters the throes of battle, he should rely
on “the Hope of Israel and their Savior” in times of need. He should realize
that he is fighting for the sake of the oneness of G-d's Name. Therefore, he
should place his soul in his hand and not show fright or fear.
He should not worry about his wife or children. On the
contrary, he should wipe their memory from his heart, removing all thoughts
from his mind except the war.
Anyone who begins to feel anxious and worry in the midst of
battle to the point where he frightens himself, violates a negative
commandment, as it is written (Deuteronomy 20:3): 'Do not be faint-hearted. Do
not be afraid. Do not panic and do not break ranks before them.'
Furthermore, he is responsible for the blood of the entire
Jewish nation. If he is not valiant, if he does not wage war with all his heart
and soul, it is considered as if he shed the blood of the entire people, as
ibid. 20:8 states: 'Let him go home, lest he demoralize the hearts of his
brethren like his own……
In contrast, anyone who fights with his entire heart,
without fear, with the intention of sanctifying G-d's name alone, can be
assured that he will find no harm, nor will bad overtake him. He will be
granted a proper family in Israel and gather merit for himself and his children
forever. He will also merit eternal life in the world to come as I
Samuel 25:28-29 states: 'G-d will certainly make my lord a faithful house, for
my lord fights the wars of G-d and evil will not be found with you... and my
lord's soul will be bound in a bond of life with G-d.'
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