Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/88

 The Book of Genesis

70

of every nuiii was against him, as against and hated beast. By his own act he was doomed wander ceaselessly, a fugitive and an outcast, up and

The hand

ship.

a feared to

the earth, never safe, never at rest, never daring to

down

pause for even a moment, with the mark of the sinner and the beast upon him, and fearing for his life before every

Such

man.

is

the sinner ever,

fate of

the

later his sins are sure to be visited

And some

and sooner or

upon him by God.

there are, and most of us are of this class,

and vacillate, who choose now the good and Sometimes the voice of God within leads them to choose the right; and sometimes they hearken to the How call of their earthly natures and choose the wrong. This life may be likened to a beautiful is it with them? The road park, in which God has established two roads. on the left seems at hrst to lead straight ahead, and to be broad and firm and easy to travel. And the other road on the right, seems narrow and insecure under foot and forbidding, and it is impossible to look far adown it and deBetween the two roads, high termine whither it leads. up where all may read, is the warning sign, "Turn to the But the road on the left seems much the better and right". pleasanter and more inviting, and most people disregard this sign, if they see it at all, and take the broad and

who now

hesitate

the

easy not

evil.

however,

Soon,

path.

that

straight,

it

curves

they

away

path

realize

that

the

the

left,

farther

to

is

and

And it becomes ever harder and those who tread it grow foot-sore and It becomes narrow, too, and overgrown, and bramweary. bles and briars on the wayside snatch at the tired wanVery soon the derers, and pierce and tear and wound. farther from the narrow road.

under

foot,

wise and clearsighted begin to

tliink

them,

every

the

right.

Luckily

appear on the right right".

And

tor side,

one by one

of

the

other road on

now and

then

paths

each with the sign, "Turn to the

tlie

wise turn aside into these paths,