The Battle with the Evil Inclination: A War Like No Other

The struggle against the yetzer hara- the evil inclination- is a true war in every sense. While there are clear parallels between this internal spiritual war and other types of warfare, there are also fundamental differences. One major distinction is that human wars are finite and must eventually come to an end, whereas the war against the yetzer hara is a lifelong internal struggle.

The first lesson in fighting the yetzer hara can be drawn from the strategies used in physical warfare. In any war, one must summon courage and not be overtaken by fear or panic. The Torah instructs us not to let fear dominate us when standing before our enemies.

The Torah doesn't encourage inflated self-confidence- true spiritual strength doesn’t come from ego, but from complete reliance on the help of G-d. When fighting the yetzer, we must place our trust in G-d and hope for Divine assistance.

Learning from the Enemy

Just as in military combat it is wise to study the enemy's tactics, the same applies in spiritual warfare. We can learn from the yetzer hara itself. As the verse says, "From my enemies You have made me wise" (Psalms 119:98). One of the most important principles to learn from the yetzer is to never underestimate the small things.

We’re often surprised at how much effort the yetzer hara invests just to make a person stumble in a seemingly minor transgression. The primordial serpent- the classic symbol of the evil inclination- is described in Genesis (3:15): “He will bite your heel.” The serpent doesn’t go for dramatic attack, but starts with small bites- with the things we trample underfoot and dismiss as trivial.

The yetzer knows that even the smallest compromise can leave a lasting wound. His attacks may begin subtly, but their effects eventually spread throughout the person’s spiritual being.

Our Response Must Match His Tactics

Our defense must be just as alert. We must not dismiss even the smallest sin. Aside from its inherent severity, making light of a “minor” transgression opens the door to greater falls. As our sages taught: “One sin leads to another.” This kind of spiritual descent is very real and incredibly dangerous.

On the flip side, even if a person has sinned, they must not stop doing mitzvot, no matter how small they seem. There are those who live by the philosophy of “all or nothing.” But we must recognize that this attitude is itself a strategy of the yetzer hara.

The Torah’s view is that every action stands on its own. We must never adopt a mindset that groups mitzvot or sins together in a way that justifies apathy. Every detail matters. Every choice we make carries immense spiritual weight and shapes our future- for better or worse.