That dangerous First Wrong Choice

The Brisker Rav, explains that the entire purpose of the ten plagues was to teach the world what happens to a person who becomes a habitual sinner.  Ultimately, say the Brisker Rav, such a person will become addicted to sin to the same extent that a substance abuser becomes addicted.  Of course, once that happens,  he has lost control of his actions- a truth that caused Pharaoh to lose his bechirah.  Pharaoh had a choice- and making that wrong first choice was what led to his repeated evil behavior.

Because we are surrounded by the decadence of modern society, we must take this lesson to heart and be extremely careful not to fall into the clutches of the Yezer Hara.  We must realize that the only time we still have full control is before that first taste of sin-because avairos, like illegal substances, are habilt forming and once we are addicted to them, it is almost impossible to extricate ourselves from their hold.

from an article by Rabbi Chaim A. Weinberg in Homodia Magazine 29 Teves

Thank you Rivkie for sending this to me.