“YHVH your God will dislodge those peoples before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them at once, else the wild beasts would multiply to your hurt” (Deuteronomy 7:22).
On the surface, the Torah is talking about the land’s carrying capacity—without sufficient people and industry, it will grow wild and inhospitable. But the Hassidic masters understood the Hebrews’ biblical battle to attain the Promised Land to be a metaphor. It stood for any personal, spiritual battle—against an “evil inclination,” like addiction, laziness, or greed, for example. The un-dislodged enemies are remnants of negative aspects we haven’t yet banished from ourselves. The “little by little” represents personal failures, errors, or set-backs that stand between us and ultimate victory. While these are often painful, disappointing or upsetting, might there be any way to understand them as beneficial to the process? Perhaps set-backs can become opportunities. Perhaps they can remind us of our fragility, that we are not invincible, and encourage us to invite and value help. Perhaps they can encourage us to refresh our skills, or acquire new ones. Perhaps set-backs can remind us of where we don’t want to be, and thereby help us rededicate ourselves to the victory.
For personal progress to be sustained, we need time to adjust to the new realities in our lives. New, unexpected threats can emerge. In a culture of quick fixes and instant gratification, patience can be infuriating—even if it builds better, longer lasting results. Friar Laurence advised Romeo: “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
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