The Torah implores Bnei Yisrael to “prepare the way” for the unintentional murderer, availing him the opportunity to reach the safe haven of the Arai Miklat. Indeed, they prepared road signs which pointed the way to the nearest city of refuge. The Talmud in Makkos 10b states that just as Hashem shows the way for the unintentional sinner, He certainly does the same for the righteous. Horav A.H. Lebowitz, Shlita, notes that Hashem places “road signs” for all of us, directing us to the correct path to follow for a successful life.
The unintentional murderer found his way referring to the signs. When he came to a fork in the road, the sign pointed him in the correct way. We, too, have signs to follow when we reach a fork in the road of life. We are mandated to analyze the Torah and determine the meaning of its message to us. Our course in life is charted by Hashem’s halachos, laws, which illuminate every step of our journey through life.
Our devotion to halachah will determine how simple or difficult it will be for us to recognize the message of our personal road signs. The greater our affinity to Torah law, the easier it is for us to find our way through the maze of confusion to which we are subjected in life.
Horav Lebowitz sums up his thesis with a profound observation. The reason that the murderer found it difficult to course his way was his lack of familiarity with the area of the city of refuge. Had he been near home, he would have had no problem reaching his destination. Likewise, the more we discover ourselves to be at home in Torah, the easier it will be for us to discern its message and to chart our path through life.
