Bribe. The word itself smells of corruption. No one should ever take a bribe. The Torah testifies to the fact that a bribe “blinds even the wise” to be able to judge a case clearly. G-d himself tells us in this week’s Torah portion that we cannot bribe Him! That’s how malicious a bribe is.
However, let’s be truthful, don’t we all take bribes from time to time? Maybe not financial bribes, but bribes of words. For example, if someone wrongs us but they apologize, and we forgive them for the “sin” that they committed against us, isn’t that a bribe? If they changed their action, that is one thing; they become a different person, a changed person. However, if it is just words, why are we trusting someone just on their word?
The truth is that at times, we may not accept someone’s apology–depending on the severity of the crime. That is why it is so important for a judge not to take any kind of monetary bribe, since that could cloud their judgment. A judge has no idea if a person means what they are saying or not when they say that they will change their ways.
G-d, on the other hand, does know. That is why when we show G-d that we intend to make a change in our life, He knows our true intention. If our goal is to better ourselves and we are not there yet, it doesn’t mean that we are not on the road to change. We are! G-d recognizes that. That is why it is not called a bribe—G-d sees the end of the road, while we may still be at the beginning of the road.
As we live through this coronavirus outbreak, we have a choice to make. Do we look at the world through our eyes, at what is in front of us only, or do we look at the end of the road, through “G-dly eyes,” knowing that there is an end, even if we cannot see it?
If we look through our worldly eyes only, we are prone to taking a bribe. We may be convinced one way or another, by some news media or whatever, to believe a certain way, which can cloud our judgment. If however, we have faith in G-d that there is a plan for this world, we change ourselves – not the world – but ourselves, knowing that there is an end to the road. Things will get better. This is G-d’s world, after all. Then we will not be bribed by the media, etc. We will stay focused on doing our part to keep this world safe and healthy.
Shabbat Shalom.