Pharaoh had finally agreed to let the Jewish people leave Egypt. God then led the Jews to Israel on the longest route out of Egypt. God knew that if He took them out on the shortest route, the Jews would encounter a war along the way. And God said...
"Perhaps the people will reconsider when they see a war, and they will return to Egypt" (Exodus, 13:17).
A Life Lesson
Even though the Jewish people had just personally witnessed an awesome series of miracles, God knew that at the first sign of trouble they would want to return to Egypt and back to their lives of slavery.
How many times have you set a goal for yourself and the moment something didn't go as smoothly as you had planned, you immediately experienced self-doubt and seriously questioned your ability, worthiness, and even the goal itself? And the dream that you were so certain you wanted ends up slowly drifting into the large sea of the other unaccomplished goals and dreams you had in the past. Isn't it amazing that on Monday you knew exactly what you wanted with crystal clear clarity and had a solid game plan to achieve it, and by Wednesday you're about to give up?
The reason for all of this is due to two internal, distinct and powerful drives that God gave as a gift to all of us. One drive wants to change the world, climb the highest mountains, and leave the planet in a radically and more improved place than it now exists. The other drive will then challenge, question, and doubt every part of this journey and try with all its might to prevent you from never accomplishing anything.
Why would God, who loves us more than words could ever express, give us a desire not to grow, succeed, or experience the pleasure of great accomplishments?
The answer is simple: Only through struggle and fighting the burning desire to quit can we ever have the unbelievable joy and ecstasy that comes from achievement. If God knew the Jews would want to run back to slavery at the first challenge they encountered after just witnessing all of the miracles that He preformed for them, then clearly the drive to quit and retreat is alive and well within all of us. It doesn't matter how big, great, or strong you are -- this force will always be there.
Knowledge is power and by knowing that this "drive to quit" was designed by God to actually make you great will now give you the ability to see it for what it is: A test. Will you recognize that this drive's only purpose is to get you NOT to change the world and then fight through the urge to run away, or do you stop in your tracks and question your very existence?
Every time you begin a project, start an exercise program, want to launch a new career, or go towards any meaningful goal, you must know that you will encounter a war. This war might be disguised as the people who tell you that cannot succeed, or the rejection you face, or the obstacles you'll inevitably encounter. Remember, you were "pre-designed" by God to have a burning urge to retreat to Egypt. Make no mistake about it, you will be tested.
Great men and women have all faced the exact same tests and they have doubted themselves and all had the urge to quit. But for them, going back to Egypt was not an option. So they instead kept their eye on the ball and kicked their self- doubt in its shin's and went on to greatness. And people look at their great success stories and bemoan to all who'll listen that they too would have achieved greatest if they had the same circumstances. And that's the great irony -- their circumstances aren't just the same, but identical. The circumstance was the desire to quit. Great men and women blast through it, while others reconsider when they see a war and return to Egypt.
So, while having a good plan is important, not giving up on it is everything. And sometimes even after you choose to fight the war, you might not win. But take much comfort in knowing that it's completely up to God whether or not you'll have the strength and ability to win the war. But that was never the point. Because the purpose of the test was to just fight the war and refuse to retreat to Egypt. And since we're all designed for greatness, it's only through choosing to fight and march on that we'll inevitably experience the ecstasy of success. So the next time you want to become better in some way tomorrow than you are today, know that the great men and women of history who've achieved so much are no different than you and I. They just hung around for the war.
(18) Alex, January 24, 2018 12:50 PM
Amazing
It is absolutely amazing. Superb parsha.
(17) Anonymous, February 7, 2017 2:15 PM
Amen! Excellent article and very well written! Thanks for posting!
(16) Anonymous, January 18, 2016 2:38 PM
Great article! Thanks for posting!
(15) lenny, January 10, 2014 2:05 AM
great vort
I just have one question. if G-D took them around the desert so as not to give them the temptation to retreat and give up how are we meant to have the strength to continue the struggle and face the war if we don't even have that protection that they had. The fact that G-D took them around the desert and didn't put them in a situation of war out of fear that they would not fight- shows me that I don't have the strength to fight if G-D ever puts me in a situation of war.
Please explain.
Nina Kotek, January 24, 2021 11:42 AM
Maybe they needed more protection
They were just leaving slavery and becoming a nation and starting to learn about God. They were not really Jews yet, just getting there. You know and have all that already!
(14) Anonymous, January 8, 2014 1:40 PM
Amazing!
This is amazing, thanks for posting!
(13) Anonymous, January 24, 2013 8:00 PM
awesome
thank you!
(12) Jong, January 21, 2013 11:08 PM
Powerful
Rabbi, you always write articles with full of insight. Thank you so much. I hope that I will always hang on to your words, keep my eyes on the ball and persist until I have my goal accomplished.
Andrew, January 25, 2015 5:21 PM
BE CAREFULLY!!
I believed in this kind of think. So i decided change my slavery (job), and change it. I made all my effort, more than normal trying to acomplish my "GOAL". Today i am almost broke, depressed, ashemed, etc.
My friends, be caefull about this kind of thinking........
(11) jay schiffres, February 4, 2012 2:29 AM
A wonderful commentary but...
What you have written is meaningful to me. As an artist, I have quit. I will try not to in the future. The "but" I feel is the destruction of the Egyptian warriors who were drowned after G-d had separated the sea. It haunts me. Why did they have to die? G-d could have closed the waters before they attempted to follow. I know there must be a reason and I know that somehow it is related to this portion. But how?
(10) Gary, January 31, 2012 9:55 PM
A Question
This is a very powerful article. However, there are times when doubts/questions etc. about a particular undertaking are legitimate warning signs to reconsider. So how do you know the difference between legitimate concerns and a test to be overcome?
Anonymous, November 15, 2012 2:11 AM
You can check if it is in line with God's will according to the Torah. If so, if His favour is on it and blessing comes out of it.
C.K., October 9, 2013 12:19 PM
Ask
My experience has taught me to ask. Share your ideas with someone who knows you, you trust and is a positive person. There is nothing wrong woth sharing your ideas/thoughts with more than one person, just bear in mind that you are a dictator- over yourself. May hashem guide and bless us all, down to every last detail at every moment, and may we merit seeing his guidance always.
Anonymous, January 5, 2014 3:53 PM
thank you
Thank you . This makes a lot of sense ,& is encouraging positive , constructive , & productive behavior
(9) Roberta, January 30, 2012 6:54 PM
Empowering, illuminating
Thanks so much for giving me a completely new and empowering understanding of this passage. So useful and immediately applicable, powerful leverage, Is there a name for the phenomenon of readers determined to point out that the version they didn't write would have been better than the one you did?
(8) David E. Crawford, January 10, 2011 5:51 PM
Desire to quit
Thank you for the encouraging words. Making a better choices to move foreward in G-ds word at work I know that as we do more to fallow the Torah the more people hold us to the choices we make to fallowing Adonai. May HeShem bless your day,David
(7) Anonymous, January 24, 2010 7:29 PM
Confused
While the statements made in this commentary are interesting, they seem to miss something important. HaShem *could* have lead the Jewish People the short way, but He DID NOT. It seems like the better lesson would be: If you know a "direct assault" is likely to lead to moral defeat, then one should re-think your approach and see if you can achieve your goal another way. HaShem always gives us more than one way to be successful, and sometimes that means trusting that the "slower" approach will yield the best chance of success--even if we want that success immediately.
lenny, January 10, 2014 2:13 AM
Well said
This would answer my previous question
(6) Shira, February 6, 2009 5:43 PM
thank you
This is truly what I needed at this moment. I am so grateful I found it. As I was reading it I felt H presence and I know H is proud of me for not quitting and fighting my war. Thank you.
(5) Jenny, February 6, 2009 4:55 PM
Doubt on your dreams or goals is mistrust of G-d and therby we become our own worst adviser
I disagree with 50% of your comment. Yes G-d gave us a great gift to dream big, make plans, believe in all that is great, and our desire to make the world a better place. However, he made us humans with the power of choice, and sometimes we choose to doubt G-d. And right there is the problem. We are the source of all our own disappointments. We are the ones who quit or have the power to give up. Self-doubt is a bad habit. G-d give us the drive. It is up to us to be brave, to solve problems, to remove obstacles, and Always trust G-d 100%. Anyone can take the time to notice his kindness and love for us. From the time he guided us away from slavery to every miracle we care to notice. Also notice that if we work very hard at something, and it becomes impossible to accomplish, something better is in the works. So, one has to be greatfull for temporary setbacks. Yes, they maybe disappointing, or a source of aggravation. But notice from misery something great comes to our lives. This advise comes from someone who came to this country with $200, had no friends, or family in the USA, had to learn English and lived in my car for 6 months. But I have managed to kick the bad habit of self-doubt to zero because I trust G-d 100%. And when things don't seem to go in the way I planned, I actually begin to look for the blessing. Give your-self the liberty to dream big, write down what you want, think about if that is what you want, and then move forward without fear. I wish anyone who has self-doubt kicks this bad habit.
andrew acosta, January 29, 2012 7:10 PM
Great!
Jenny my congratulations to you. You will get all your dreams and you are the best advice for me: trust in Hashem at 100%! . Andrew
jay, January 11, 2014 3:38 AM
Well Said
Your comment is meaninful to me.
(4) Eric J.M.S., February 6, 2009 1:46 PM
This is great insight!
We set goals for ourselves but do we always see these goals through? It's easier said than done. Setting goals is one thing but accomplishing these goals is empowering. It's a great morale booster to fulfill your goals and to make these goals a reality. Your life has purpose and meaning then! Quitting isn't empowering, it's giving up on life. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Remember that!
(3) Gisela, February 5, 2009 12:08 PM
Just what I needed TODAY
I decided on Elul 5768 that I would loyally read the Torah Portions, and articles for beginners, in 5769. I have found that every week, each portion has "spoken"to me for exactly what I am dealing with in my life. This article is what I exactly needed to read today! Thanks Aish
(2) Valin Richards, January 29, 2007 3:19 PM
Hi there,
Today, I am realy glad that I have the opportunity to read this article. It is very uplifting for to understand that I as an individual thought of quitting my goals, projects etc was enlightened by the fact that there is this desire in me to win the war.
Thank you very much.
(1) Dovbear, January 29, 2007 10:27 AM
Terrific
Thank you. Just what I needed as a reminder as I start the week. I've sent this to several friends.