We must all always be aware that everything in life is a partnership between our efforts and Divine assistance.
This week’s Torah portion is “Shoftim” (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) and in it we read about the requirement for men to serve in the military. With some exceptions, men between the ages of 20 and 50 were drafted to the service.
But of course, there are always exemptions from military service, which is true in every society and every country. Among the Torah mandated exemptions were those who had built a new house but had not yet dedicated it, those who planted a vineyard but did not yet harvest it or enjoy its fruits, those who were engaged to be married, and those who were simply scared of military service.
There are two interpretations offered for this latter exemption of “fearful and soft hearted.” Either it means a person who is scared by the sights and sounds of battle or a person who knows he has a few too many sins on his slate and might not deserve to return alive from battle as punishment.