“I call heaven and earth today to bear witness against you: I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; and you shall choose life, so that you will live, you and your children”
(Devarim 30:19)
>Rabbi Chanina said, “Everything is in Heaven’s hands, except for fear of Heaven” (Berachot 33b).
Our Torah teaches, and Greek philosophers have agreed, that man is in control of his actions and is not forced by any outside force (Shemoneh Perakim L’Harambam 8).
Man is completely in control of himself. He makes his own choices out of his free will (Rambam, Moreh Nevuchim 3:17).
Certainly, one who rebels against the word of Hashem walks in darkness and is an ignoramus and a fool. There is nothing more foolish than rebelling against the King of kings, Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Master of all worlds. Whoever has any sense is happy to do his Creator’s bidding, even without thought of reward. The wise man foresees the future. I would like to state that whoever sins is a fool. Therefore, everyone should arouse his intellect to walk with the wise and become wise as well (Shelah, Sha’ar Ha’otiot, Yetzer Tov).
For if a person were forced toward perfection, he would not really be the master of it… It was thus essential that man be given free will, and be balanced between good and evil, and not be forced toward either. He has the power of choice, and is able to choose either, knowingly and willingly, and attain whichever one he wishes (Derech Hashem I, 3:1).
Man’s main mission is to reach a level in which he no longer has free choice in which truth and falsehood are equal. He should come to a stage at which he feels compelled to do Hashem’s will.
I heard from the unique thinker of the previous generation, the wise and holy Rabbi Yerucham of Mir, that the main aspect of free choice is that a person chooses to act as though he were forced. He clearly recognizes that he is obligated to do his Master’s will… One who clearly perceives the greatness of his Maker, and the severity of the suffering of one who disobeys Him, will find himself compelled to fulfill Hashem’s will.
The Gra writes that every act begins with a desire. One’s ability to act on that desire is what allows him to bring it to fruition. Hashem’s desire is that we do His mitzvot. He has conferred upon us the ability to fulfill this desire. This is the essence of free choice. It is incumbent upon us to use this ability for His sake. We do this by habituating ourselves to doing His will, thereby making it second nature. The force of habit compels us to do what is right.
This concept is mentioned in the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah, Toldot, Parashah 67). Rabbi Levi said, “Man has six faculties. Three are in his control, and three are not. The eyes, the ears, and the nose are not under his jurisdiction. The mouth, the hands, and the feet are under his jurisdiction. When one merits, Hashem makes even the organs not normally under his jurisdiction fall under his control (Michtav Me’Eliyahu I, pg. 117).
