Av 28

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This verse can be applied to understanding the ways and tactics of the yetzer hara. The yetzer hara has one mission: to cause a person to self-destruct. However, the yetzer hara is very wily. Realizing that a person will defend against his evil seductions, it seeks first to disarm the person.

Suppose that I was your sworn enemy, determined to destroy you. It would be foolish for me to make a frontal attack, since you would undoubtedly defend yourself. I must therefore seek to first disarm you.

Each time I meet you, I greet you pleasantly and inquire as to your welfare. I try to find occasions where I may be of actual help to you. Although you may have initially been wary that I might be hostile to you, my repeated benevolent behavior eventually leads you not only to drop your suspicions, but even to believe that I am your friend and have your best interests at heart. Once I have achieved this, I am then free to do whatever I wish to destroy you, since your assumption of my good intentions has caused you to relinquish your guard.

The yetzer hara operates in the exact same way. It may tell you to do things for yourself that seem innocent enough. "How can you go to shul in such a snowstorm? You may catch cold. You can pray at home, because God is everywhere." Strange, this same argument does not keep you from going to the office.

A truly wise person will think, "If I were the yetzer hara, what measures might I use to mislead someone?" And then use the very same cleverness to outwit the yetzer hara.

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