Orach L’Chaim: Vaeira

The 26th of Tevet is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Avraham Chaim of Zlotchov, author of Orach LeChaim and P’ri Chaim (1816). “I will bring them to the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The question of the Or Hachaim Hakadosh is well known: How could God say that He intended to bring them into the land, when He, Who knows all, surely knew that this generation would die out in the desert and would never enter the Land of Israel?

If an experienced archer watches a student aim his arrow, he will know whether the arrow will hit the target or not even before the arrow is shot. So, too, God knows what we will do, and His knowledge does not affect out aim or choices.

God is telling Moshe that each Jew would have the opportunity to enter the Land of Israel. He was granting each the potential and ability. It would be their choice how to aim their decisions and whether to live in such a way as to realize the potential they were granted.