When Everything is Already Written, Why Try

A serious question came up in our class yesterday.

We were learning about Yaakov switching his hands over Menashe and Efraim. According to Rav Moshe Feinstein zt"l, Yaakov knew who would have the greater, more Chashuv descendants.

"If that's true, and everything is already written, then what am I doing? Why am I davening? Everything is already planned out. What am I even trying for?"

The fact that H'shem knows what will happen does not diminish your responsibility to make it happen.

Don't try to take over H'shem's job. Let Him run the world.

No cat is worried that H'shem will send him oranges instead of chicken or meat.

H'shem knows what you like, what you want. He created you—He knows everything about you and how to make you happy, better than anyone else in the world, including yourself.

So leave running the world to Him, and you do your best.

And I am positive you will be happy with the end result.

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