Man is engaged in a constant war against his archrival, the yetzer hara – evil inclination. How can man succeed against such a powerful enemy? The answer can be found in an old parable:

Two kings had been waging a fierce war for many years, with each one taking turns gaining the upper hand. One day, the kings decided to put an end to their war. The two met and agreed to wage one battle that would last a total of four days. Whoever won this decisive battle would be proclaimed the victor, and the loser would submit en­tirely to the will of the conqueror.

The kings began preparing for the deciding battle, and their finest generals taught the soldiers new war tactics and strategies.

When the war commenced, it was clear that both armies were powerful, skilled, and of equal strength. Indeed, on the first day of the fighting, one of the armies proved triumphant, and on the second day, the other was victorious. Towards evening of the third day, one of the generals gathered the commanders of his troops and ex­claimed, “Men! Tomorrow is the final and decisive day of this war, and we must emerge victorious at any cost. However, as the sides are evenly matched, we must utilize a brilliant plan. Our spies,” he continued, “have reported that the enemy’s ammunition and many of their weapons are in a specific bunker in their camp. If we were to send an elite team of sol­diers to steal the ammunition and weapons from the enemy’s camp, they would be easily defeated.”

Everyone agreed, and they carried out the plan. A squad of elite soldiers secretly entered the enemy camp and stole their ammunition and weapons.

The next day, there was a loud trumpet blast and the armies assembled to take the field. But when one of the armies rushed to arm themselves, they were shocked to discover that the bunker in their camp was empty. Left with no other choice, they surrendered.

If the evil inclination, encounters you, pull it into the study hall, (go and study Torah). If it is a stone it will melt, and if it is iron it will break, as it is stated in reference to the Torah: “Is not my word like fire, says the L-rd, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29). Just as a stone shatters a hammer, so too one can overcome the evil inclination, which is as strong as iron, through Torah study. (Kiddushin 30b)

So it is with man’s war against the yetzer hara – evil inclination. The evil inclination battles a man all the days of his life. There are occasions when the yetzer hara emerges victorious and other times when man proves triumphant. It is at that point that the evil inclination devises the cunning strategy to steal man’s ammunition and weapons – the holy Torah, in the merit of which he can defeat the yetzer hara.

We must therefore take caution that the yetzer hara does not steal our powerful weapon. For even if the yetzer hara has recently prevailed, a person must not despair. Rather, they must strengthen and discipline themselves to study the holy Torah and good deeds, and only then will a person triumph over the yetzer hara – evil inclination.

On the one hand, the evil inclination is within every person; and the subjugation of kingdoms is on the other hand. Hear the ancient prayer, “May it be Your will that You will deliver us from their hands, of both the evil inclination and the foreign kingdoms, so that we may return to perform the edicts of Your will with a whole heart.” (Berachos 17a)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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