Noach
The passuk states בעצם היום הזה בא נח… Rashi explains that the people of his generation claimed, “If we will see Noach and his family trying to enter the teiva we won’t let them go in, and even more, we will take hatches and axes and break down the teiva.” Hashem said, “I will bring them into the teiva in front of everyone, and we will see who will be correct.” בעצם refers to when the sun is at the top of the sky, during midday, when everyone could see. They will see Noach and his family entering into the teiva, and they will not be able to stop them. Onkelos translates בעצם as bichron or bikran (בכרן or בקרן), meaning the power and strength of the day. The Ramban explains that the letter כ’ and ק’ are interchangeable, and the word keren (קרן) means horn, which is the place and usage of the strength of an animal. Animals use their horns to fight off others and catch their prey. So too, this day had unique power and strength that in only one day, all the people, and the hundreds of thousands of animals, birds, and insects entered the teiva. Although naturally it would take days for everyone to enter the teiva, Hashem decreed for them to go in that day, and performed a miracle that it should happen.
When Bnei Yisrael went out of Mitzrayim the passuk states בעצם היום הזה הוציא ה’ את בני ישראל מארץ מצרים. Rashi explains the Mitzri’im said, “If we see that Bnei Yisrael are trying to leave Mitzrayim we will not allow them to, and even more, we will take swords and weaponry and kill them.” Hashem said, “I will take them out at midday; whoever has power to protest- come and protest.” Onkelos translates differently, “Hashem took them out with the power of the day.” The Ramban explains it means, in such a short time all 6,000,000 men, plus the women and children, plus all their belongings came together at Ra’amseis to leave Mitzrayim. Naturally it would have taken days, however Hashem decreed for Bnei Yisrael to leave Mitzrayim on that day so Hashem performed a miracle to cause all of Bnei Yisrael to get together and leave.
The same way on certain days Hashem decrees for miracles to occur so too Hashem decrees for each person each day his situation and attitude. The Sefer HaYashar brings that there is a phenomenon called yi’mei ahava and yi’mei sinah, days of love and days of hatred. Some days a person has an easy time serving Hashem such as when one wakes up rested and happy. He anticipates the accomplishments of that day and has a feeling of love and closeness to Hashem. On such days he is meant to put in effort and grab the opportunity to reach high levels of avodas Hashem and cherish it. Other days a person wakes up tired and grumpy, angry and upset. Then, his avodah is to be extra careful how he deals with people, and if he does so he is victorious with his challenge.
The same is true with challenges in learning. Sometimes a person sits down to learn and everything is understood and it all clicks into place. His challenge is to make use of the opportunity and accomplish as much as he can. Yet other times he sees clouds and darkness, and hasn’t the faintest idea of what is going on. His challenge is not to give up and put in as much effort to understand as best as he can. My Rosh HaYeshiva said, that one will notice in his reviewing, that he will understand the sugyos which were originally difficult, better than the sugyos which were smooth the first time.
May we recognize Hashem’s daily decrees and be victorious over our daily challenges.
