3.7.a The end of wickedness and sin
In Zechariah 13:2 it is written:
וְהָיָה֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא נְאֻ֣ם|ה’ צְבָא֗וֹת אַכְרִ֞ית אֶת־שְׁמ֤וֹת הָֽעֲצַבִּים֙ מִן־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יִזָּכְר֖וּ ע֑וֹד וְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַנְּבִיאִ֛ים וְאֶת־ר֥וּחַ הַטֻּמְאָ֖ה אַעֲבִ֥יר מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
“In that day, too—declares the G-d of Hosts—I will erase the very names of the idols from the land; they shall not be uttered any more. And I will also make the “prophets” and the unclean spirit vanish from the land.”
Rashi explains that by “unclean spirit” the Yetzar hara, the evil tendency is meant.[1]
The evil tendency is “the voice” in us that comes up with excuses in situations where we get to choose, with as result: making the wrong decision. Knowledge about G-d, worshipping and respecting G-d will give us a deep awareness of what His will is. This will make it easier to silence this “little voice” and G-d Himself will help us to achieve that.
This doesn’t mean that man no longer has the freedom to choose.
However, sinning and wickedness is so illogical to do, that it is avoided.
Just as we know today that we have the choice to put our hands in the fire, we will not choose to do so, because we know the logical consequence of pain.
3.7.b Contemporary significance for Noahides
The Yetzar hara disappears in the time of the Messiah, but how do we deal with this tendency today? Because how often do we experience before going to bed at night, while rethinking the day, that we have made the wrong decisions.
Knowing and wanting to worship G-d (commandments 1 and 2) will make a person want to delve into His will. He expressed His will for Noahides in the seven Noahide Commandments, the first and second of which we have already mentioned. Studying, learning and passing on the remaining 5 commandments to our society is essential for a healthy relationship with G-d, with our fellow man and with creation as a whole. These remaining 5 are: (3) The prohibition of murder and injury (respect for life), (4) The prohibition of forbidden relations (respect for marriage), (5) The prohibition of theft (respect for the property of another), (6) The Prohibition of eating meat that was separated from a living animal (respect for animals – and the world) and (7) Establishment of laws and courts.
If we motivate ourselves to make an effort to get closer to G-d in this way, G-d shall establish a much higher reciprocity and He shall give this person a greater and higher level of spiritual inspiration for divine service than one could have achieved on his own. If a person receives this extra inspiration from G-d and it immediately is used to work on himself and he internalizes this, he will achieve a permanent progression in his spiritual life. [2]
So we see that if we do our part by making an effort carrying out His will, He will help us to achieve our goal.
A person must actively exchange his erroneous thoughts for a good thought. After that you will start to notice that you start to grow(mentally and spiritually).
That which applies to your thoughts also applies to your actions. We should not expect that we will never make wrong decisions; instead we must make sure that we spend our effort and time making the right decision and repent appropriately when we have committed a sin.
“If you want to change the world, start with yourself”. Show your improvements to your environment and you motivate and inspire others to get started with this process as well.
By Angelique Sijbolts
Sources:
[1] Zechariah 13:2 with Commentary (sefaria.org) see other related texts: Isaiah 60:21, Jeremiah 50:20, Ezekiel 37:23, Zephaniah 3:13, and Malachi 3:19.
[2] Seven Gates of Righteous Knowledge written by Rabbi Moshe Weiner and Dr. Michael Schulman. See: the third gate; the gate of prophecy of serving G-d, chapter 1, the essence of the service to G-d.
Thanks to Dr. Michael Schulman for the feedback
Translated by Withney Ann Sieverink-McNair
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