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The Barrel of Scorpions

GYE Admin Tuesday, 01 November 2016

Most of us have so many blessings to be thankful for in our lives, but the Yetzer Hara tries to make us believe that we MUST have that one “forbidden fruit.” He tries to convince us that Hashem is withholding the ONE THING we want most because He really doesn’t have our best interest in mind.

The Gemara brings a Moshol from Rabbi Levi on the story of Adam in Gan Eden:

A married woman has a friend who asks her how her husband treats her. She responds that her husband gives her everything her heart desires and treats her like a queen, besides for one barrel that he has warned her not to touch. “In that barrel are snakes and scorpions, and my husband has warned me never to stick my hand in there.” Her friend responds, “rubbish! I’ll bet you he’s keeping all his money and diamonds in that barrel, saving it with a plan to leave you and give it to another woman whom he loves more than you.” When she heard that, she stuck her arm into the barrel and was promptly bitten and stung by snakes and scorpions. Upon hearing her cries, her husband came running and shouted, “Did you stick your hand into the barrel that I warned you not to?!”

This Moshol sounds so much like the Yetzer Hara for lust. Hashem truly has ONLY our best interest in mind at all times. He is withholding this back from us only for our OWN good. Let us not fall for the Yetzer Hara’s lies!