The Chiel Syndrome

Paroh sent his royal investigators to see if any Jew’s cattle died during “Arov”. He found out that none did, and he stiffened his neck. We asked the kinderlach if indeed it made no difference, why did he send people to check??

One suggestion we had was that maybe if some of the Jews’ cattle had died Paroh would have negotiated. He could say “I’m not convinced that this is the work of Hashem, but I am prepared to hear His terms”. He could save face. But when not a single Jewish animal died, Paroh refused to deal. A man may be willing to oblige another, but only if he is not coerced to do so. Compel him to do it; and you invite opposition and dissent. When Yehoshua destroyed Yericho he cursed he who would dare rebuild it. The curse was specific; with the death of his first-born he will lay the city foundation, and with the death of his last son he will set its wall-gates. Chiel of Bais El rebuilt Yericho in defiance of Yehoshua. When he began its construction his first son Avirum died, and when he set its gates S’giv his last son died, exactly as Yehoshua had cursed. So why did he continue on? Didn’t he see what was happening? Such is man. He refuses to be forced, even at the penalty of losing all his children! The moral is that 1) we recognize our own innate propensity towards contrariness and be on guard against it, and 2) should we hope to move people, don’t force them. Motivate them instead, and attain results.