The Maharal writes that the purpose of tests isn't to let Hashem know where we are holding in our devotion and in our avodas Hashem because Hashem knows this information even before we are tested. The purpose of the tests is to help us bring forth our potential.
The potential was there beforehand. Tests bring out the potential into action, and that develops one’s personality and spiritual growth.
The Ramban writes that there were other tzaddikim in Avraham Avinu's era who kept the Torah. Still, they didn’t reach Avraham Avinu’s level because they didn't pass ten nisyonos as Avraham did.
There was a person who suffered from many challenges in his life, and he told his rebbe that he didn't want the tests. His rebbe told him, "Take three pots filled with water. Cook a potato in one, a raw egg in the second, and put coffee, sugar, and milk in the third."
An hour later, the rebbe showed him that the raw egg became hard, the hard potato became soft, and the third pot had sweet coffee. The rebbe explained, "The boiling water represents life's tests. The tests toughen the soft people, soften the tough people, and it can make someone sweet like sweetened coffee."
This is because people grow from the hardships that they overcome.
The Gemara (Yoma 69:, based on Nechemya h 9) teaches how the chachamim nullified the yetzer hara for avodah zorah. The community fasted for three days and for three nights, and the yetzer hara came out of the Kodesh HaKedashim (Holy of Holies), appearing like a lion of fire. Zecharyah HaNavi told them, "This is the yetzer hara for avodah zorah!" and they captured it.
But we wonder, why did the yetzer hara come out of the Kodesh HaKedashim? Why was the yetzer hara in the holiest place in the world?
The answer is, the yetzer hara elevates people to the highest levels – to the Kodesh HaKedashim. The challenges that the yetzer...
