Mishneh Torah, Repentance 6

Hook

Ever feel like life is just a series of things happening to you, rather than choices you make? We often read ancient texts where it seems like God is pulling the strings, deciding who acts evil and who acts good. It can be confusing—if God is in charge of everything, do we actually have any say in our own behavior? Today, we are looking at a classic "problem" in Jewish thought. Maimonides (the Rambam) tackles this head-on, explaining why it seems like God forces people's hands, but why, in reality, your choices are entirely your own. If you’ve ever wondered if you’re actually “in the driver’s seat” of your life, or just a passenger in a pre-written story, this lesson is for you. Let’s dive into the logic of free will.

Context

• Who: Moses Maimonides (known as the Rambam), a 12th-century Jewish philosopher and physician.
• When/Where: Written in Egypt, circa 1170–1180, as part of his Mishneh Torah—his massive, organized code of Jewish law.
• Key Term (Teshuvah): A Hebrew term meaning "return"; it is the process of repenting and turning back toward the right path.
• Goal: To reconcile the idea that humans have total freedom of choice with verses in the Bible that suggest God sometimes "hardens" a person's heart or forces their actions.

Text Snapshot

"There are many verses in the Torah... which appear to contradict this fundamental principle [of free will]. The majorities of the people err because of them and think that the Holy One... does decree that a person commit evil or good... Behold, I will explain a great and fundamental principle [of faith] on the basis of which the interpretation of those verses can be understood." — Mishneh Torah, Repentance 6:1

Close Reading

Insight 1: The "Hardened Heart" is a Consequence, Not a Decree

Rambam’s most famous example is Pharaoh. We read in the Torah that God "hardened Pharaoh’s heart." It sounds like Pharaoh didn't have a choice—he was just a puppet for God’s plan. But Rambam explains that this wasn't an initial decree. Pharaoh spent years making terrible choices on his own initiative, abusing the Israelites. Eventually, his own repeated evil hardened his heart to the point where he lost the ability to repent.

Think of it like a habit. If you practice kindness every day, your heart "softens" and it becomes easier to be kind. If you constantly ignore your conscience, your heart becomes "harder" and it becomes much harder to turn back. God didn't force Pharaoh to be evil; God simply allowed Pharaoh’s own choices to reach their natural, logical conclusion. When the Bible says God "hardened his heart," it’s describing the result of a long, self-chosen path of cruelty. The "remedy" of Teshuvah (repentance) was still there, but Pharaoh had burned that bridge himself.

Insight 2: God Knows the Future, but Doesn't Mandate the Actor

This is a tricky one. Rambam addresses the idea that God knew the Egyptians would enslave the Israelites, or that the Israelites would eventually worship idols. If God told Abraham these things would happen, did God force those individuals to be the ones who committed those sins?

Rambam says: Absolutely not. God is like an observer of the "pattern of the world." He knows there will always be a mix of righteous and wicked people, just as there will always be poor people. But God never points to a specific person—like you—and says, "You must be the one who does this bad thing." You are not a pawn in a pre-written script. The fact that the world contains evil doesn't mean you are fated to contribute to it. You have the total freedom to choose a different path, regardless of what the general pattern of history looks like.

Insight 3: Teshuvah as a "Shield"

Rambam writes that Teshuvah is a "shield against retribution." This is a beautiful, empowering image. He acknowledges that our actions have consequences—sometimes in this world, sometimes later. But he insists that our ability to choose is never truly gone until we give it away through repeated, unrepentant action.

The prayers of David in the Psalms, which Rambam quotes, are essentially requests for God to keep our "choice" open. He isn't asking God to force him to be good; he’s asking God to help him avoid the kind of deep-seated stubbornness that makes repentance impossible. He wants to keep his heart flexible. By choosing to reflect on our actions today, we are effectively keeping that "shield" polished and ready. We are confirming that we are still the ones in control of our own moral compass.

Apply It

The 60-Second "Check-In" Once a day this week, pause for 60 seconds. Ask yourself: "Is the choice I’m about to make (or just made) one I’m proud of, or am I just running on autopilot?" If you realize you’re on autopilot, take one intentional breath and choose a "kind" action for the next hour—even if it’s just sending a nice text or pausing before reacting to a frustration. You are reclaiming your agency, one small, conscious choice at a time.

Chevruta Mini

1. If your past choices "harden" your heart, does that mean it’s impossible to change later in life? Or is it just a reminder to stay flexible now?
2. Does the idea that God knows the future make you feel comforted (that there’s a plan) or anxious (that your choices are limited)? Why?

Takeaway

Remember this: Your life is not a pre-written script; your choices today are yours, and as long as you stay conscious of your path, the door to change is always open.

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Explore the full text here: https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah%2C_Repentance_6