The Baal Haflah on Parshas Chukas - Don't Arouse the Midas HaDin

Today, 4 Tammuz is the yahrzeit of Reb Pinchos Halevi Horowitz, the Baal Haflah. The following is taken from a very interesting insight in his sefer Panim Yafos, which explains the first Rashi in this weeks parsha, Chukas, beautifully:

 

Rashi says on the posuk, Zos chukkas HaTorah, concerning the mitzvah of Parah Adumah: "Because Satan and the nations of the world will taunt Bnei Yisroel and ask: What is this mitzvah? What is the reason for it? Therefore the Torah referred to it as a chok; I have decreed and you're not permitted to dwell on it."

 

But, the Medrash gives a reason for Parah Adumah; it says that it's to atone for the sin of the golden calf. So why do we say it's a chok? Because anytime we mention past sins it arouses the midas hadin, and the Satan and nations of the world know this and want to do this to Klal Yisroel. This fits perfectly into Rashi's words:

"Because Satan and the nations of the world will taunt Bnei Yisroel and ask: What is this mitzvah? What is the reason for it?" They do this expecting us to answer that it's to atone for the sin of the golden calf, and that answer would bring the midas hadin on Klal Yisroel, which is their desired result. Rashi goes on to say:

"Therefore the Torah referred to it as a chok; I have decreed and you're not permitted to dwell on it." Meaning, don't say over the reason because that will arouse the midas hadin.