The Ramban at the beginning of Parshas Pinchos says that first the Torah elaborates on the tremendous Schar that Pinchos will get for his heroic deed, and afterwards the Torah speaks about the punishment coming to Midyan. We start with positive. The same with Parshas Re'eh: ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה I give before you the choice between Bracha and K'lala. First: את הברכה אשר תשמעו the Bracha if you will listen to the Mitzvos, and afterwards: והקללה אם לא תשמעו the opposite. We always start with positive.
This is a Chinuch for us to fill our mind mainly with Schar Mitzva and all the good in life and in people, so automatically when we talk, positive comes out first. A Yid has to flood his brains with Simcha and positivism. Otherwise, when Dovid went to war against Golyas HaPelishti, at first Golyas challenged and said: “If your man wins, then we are all your Avadim (slaves). And if I win, then all the Jews are my Avadim (slaves)”. Notice how he starts off negative. And indeed, he got killed in the end.
Although by nature we may be negative, it’s our lifelong job to become positive. It could save you from all kinds of Tzaros. Notice how in last week’s Haftorah, the first Yesod Yirmiyahu has to learn is: אל תאמר נער אנכי Don’t say: I’m just a kid; i.e., don’t put yourself down! You’ll make it! Don’t be afraid! And if you are afraid, then Hashem will punish you! He tells Yirmiyahu: אל תהת מפניהם פן אחתך לפניהם Don’t become discouraged from them, lest I humble you before them. Being strong and positive is serious business!
And look how the Haftorah ends off: אכרתי לך בסד נעוריך לכתך אחרי במדבר Hashem remembers the favor we did for Him by trusting Him and going into the Midbar. So many praises, as if Hashem owes us. And: קדש ישראל לה' we are the holiest people, and: כל אוכליו יאשמו ראה תבא אליהם נאם ה' those who will hurt them, Hashem will punish.
