The Ba’al Bitachon Is Surrounded by Good in This World and the Next
We have seen how the ba’al bitachon is superior to the alchemist (who is able to manufacture gold and other precious commodities using cheap materials, and thus becomes wealthy) in eight ways. The ninth way, says the Chovos HaLevavos, is that the alchemist does not take his alchemy with him to the afterlife. Furthermore, the only benefit that he has even in This World is that his alchemy saves him from poverty and from having to rely on others. Aside from this, there is nothing his alchemy can do for him.
The Ba’al Bitachon Has Everything in Both Worlds
The ba’al bitachon, on the other hand, is accompanied by the reward for his bitachon in This World as well as the Next World—not only in the area of money, but in all his affairs—as it says, יסובבנו חסד בה' והבוטח, one who trusts in Hashem is surrounded by lovingkindness. For the ba’al bitachon, trust in Hashem is always the answer, the constant salvation in every quandary.
It further says: בך לחוסים פעלת ליראיך צפנת אשר טובך רב מה, how great is the goodness that You have hidden away for those who fear You, and which You bestow on those who take refuge in You. This means that the ba’al bitachon, who takes refuge in HaKadosh Baruch Hu, receives so much goodness... it is simply indescribable.... It is impossible to explain it according to the parameters of space and time.
This is the ninth way in which the ba’al bitachon is superior to the alchemist; he doesn’t merely obtain money, but he is also enriched in every area of his life, in This World and in the Next.
The Alchemist Doesn’t Have a Good Ending
The tenth way in which the ba’al bitachon is superior is that if the alchemist’s method is revealed, it will be the cause of his death. He can be profitable only if he operates in secrecy—and after the secret is revealed, it will cause his death—because he operates in opposition to the rules of the world.
The world is designed in such a way that gold and silver and precious stones are expensive because they are rare, and there is a finite amount of them in the universe. The moment a person turns this reality on its head by manufacturing counterfeit gold and silver, he goes against the reality of This World. As long as no one knows his secret, he is safe. But as soon as the secret comes out, it is the end of him.
Once the secret is known, the Ribbono shel Olam will arrange for someone to eliminate him. There will come a moment when he won’t properly guard his secret, and this will be his downfall.
The Ba’al Bitachon Brings Blessing to His Entire Orbit
Conversely, when the secret of the ba’al bitachon comes out, and people learn the secret of his serenity, his tranquility, his parnassah, his health, and all his blessings—not only will no harm come to him—but he will become elevated in the eyes of the public, and people will honor him! Furthermore, they will become blessed by being close to him and from merely seeing him!
Problems will be eliminated from the populace and maladies will be removed from the people—simply by virtue of living in proximity to the ba’al bitachon; as it says, עולם יסוד וצדיק, the tzaddik is the foundation of the world (Mishlei 10: 25). That is, he is a source of blessing to his entire surroundings.
Just as we find regarding Lot—in whose merit the city of Tzo’ar was saved during the toppling of Sedom—so too, the entire orbit of the ba’al bitachon will be blessed by his presence. All the people who daven with him and are associated with him will merit special siyatta diShmaya and blessings because of the ba’al bitachon in their midst.
The Direct Heavenly Blessing That Encompasses the Ba’al Bitachon
The Ba’al Bitachon Doesn’t Need Kavod
When we analyze the holy words of the Chovos HaLevavos, it becomes clear that all the benefits of being a ba’al bitachon that were mentioned above (people will honor him, etc.) aren’t in the category of a reward. It isn’t that “Since you were so good and you had bitachon in Hashem, you will be rewarded with being elevated in the eyes of the people and they will give you honor.”
This cannot be, because, for the ba’al bitachon, this wouldn’t even be considered a reward! We are talking about a true ba’al bitachon. Such a person scoffs at the very thought of kavod! This is a person who has transformed his entire attitude and thought process... living the with knowledge and awareness that no one and nothing can help him besides the Ribbono shel Olam! Anything else (e.g., the way he is viewed by others) doesn’t add one iota to his success. Thus, if we would tell him that he is highly-regarded and respected... it would mean nothing to him!
By Nature, Bitachon Brings Shefah
So why would we promise him honor for his bitachon?
The answer is that the Chovos HaLevavos is once again teaching us as an amazing yesod in bitachon: The ba’al bitachon receives shefah through the laws of nature. As the holy Maggid of Mezeritch said: The promise of יסובבנו חסד בה’ הבוטח, one who trusts in Hashem is surrounded by lovingkindness, doesn’t mean that the person is rewarded by lovingkindness; rather, it is a fact: One who trusts is automatically given kindness from Above. This is how the laws of nature have been designed by Hashem.
Trusting the Source
The Chovos HaLevavos is telling us: Look around and you will see that if someone moves away from the Ribbono shel Olam and places his trust in his money, even if he does see success, it is a limited success—for how can money help him with the myriad problems a person confronts all the time? Money can, at best, help a person in some specific areas, but not much more.
The ba’al bitachon who relies on Hashem, however, draws his sustenance from Hashem. He knows and truly feels that only the Ribbono shel Olam can help him—thus, he will be helped with all his needs. For the same Source that will provide money will also provide him children, nachas, shidduchim, a home, and every other provision he needs to have a serene life—because it all emanates from the same Source!
When the Flow Opens, It Brings Everything Good
When a Yid has bitachon, it automatically brings blessings for everything around him. It is the simple order of nature that bitachon is the conduit for endless Heavenly kindness. יסובבנו חסד בה’ הבוטח. Bitachon is the conduit for drawing down chessed from Above, and once the flow comes down, it doesn’t come for only one thing.... A Heavenly blessing is not limited; it is boundless. The blessings from Hashem aren’t limited to any one thing; it will certainly bring brachah to everything a person needs, to his entire surroundings, and to all those associated with him, as the Chovos HaLevavos teaches us.
This is clearly stated in the pasuk אליך אבוא שמי את אזכיר אשר המקום בכל וברכתיך, in every place where I cause My Name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. When Hashem’s Name is remembered—that is, a person demonstrates bitachon—then the entire surroundings is blessed.
Drawing Down Hashem’s Presence Brings Blessings
Therefore, it is not that the ba’al bitachon needs honor and respect from others: a natural biproduct of his bitachon is that it spills over onto others, and thus they view him with respect and honor.
A Yid who had bitachon draws down shefah for his entire surroundings. He has brought down the Name of Hashem to his entire vicinity, and this will change the tevah to a reality of brachos and yeshu’os.
More Bitachon, More G-dliness, More Blessing
The Chovos HaLevavos isn’t trying to convince us to have bitachon because it will bring us honor and respect. The Chovos HaLevavos is simply teaching us how bitachon works! The more bitachon a person has, the more G-dliness he draws down to This World, and the more blessing will be present in his entire sphere.
This concept has no limit. Every bit of bitachon means more Elokus, G-dliness—because the person relies solely on HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and he remembers that no one can help him but Hashem. The more he remembers this and lives with it, the more the brachah will come down for all his endeavors and affairs wherever he is. Everything around him will grow and thrive.
Learning from the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
We can compare this to the infamous explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant that occurred in 1986, causing fallout not only in the immediate area, but for many miles away. Plants began to grow in abnormal ways, and people were becoming deformed, even those at great distances from Chernobyl. Because when there’s a disaster on such a scale, it affects even distant areas.
How much more so on the positive side.... The incredible blessings are effected through our bitachon. We don’t possess adequate understanding of how this works, but when there is a Heavenly brachah in a place, it influences the entire surroundings.
In a similar vein, it is said that in the days of Rav Yeshaya’le of Kerestir, there was a tremendous shefah and bounty in the entire surrounding area of Kerestir. The same is said for Rav Mendele of Rimanov; he drew down shefah of parnassah for many Yidden. Because when there is G-dliness on a great scale, then there is great brachah present. Everything grows, everything thrives.
When a Yid has bitachon, he helps to bring shefah for parnassah, as well as for many other areas.
Countless Angels Are Created by Every Second of Bitachon
Malachim of Bitachon Accompany the Ba’al Bitachon
The Kav HaYashar (Perek 8) explains the nature of this great brachah that is brought down by the ba’al bitachon through his trust in Hashem—so much so, that it impacts his entire surroundings.
The aforementioned pasuk of יסובבנו חסד בה' והבוטח, one who trusts in Hashem is surrounded by lovingkindness, refers literally to the angels of kindness who surround the ba’al bitachon and protect him from all afflictions.
We have all been taught from the youngest age that an angel is created by every mitzvah that we do, and that this malach then accompanies and protects the person. The Tiferes Shlomo teaches that the malachim who accompany a person home on Friday night are those very malachim who were created from the mitzvos that he did all week.
Says the Kav HaYashar, “When a Yid has bitachon, he creates tens of thousands of malachim at every moment. For if an angel is created from every mitzvah, then every single thought of emunah and bitachon creates a malach. Thus, it is no wonder that יסובבנו חסד! The ba’al bitachon is surrounded by so many angels of chessed through his bitachon.”
The Ba’al Bitachon Avoids So Many Pitfalls
The Kav HaYashar continues, saying that the ba’al bitachon avoids many aveiros that are commonly committed by one who doesn’t have bitachon in the course of his affairs: Sometimes, he engages in stealing or in other improper forms of earning money—because he feels he has no other way to be profitable, for example. But the ba’al bitachon avoids all these pitfalls. Whenever he has a nisayon to engage in dishonesty, he immediately remembers that it is Hashem Who ordains parnassah, and He will help him. “I have a better way of earning money. I don’t have to come to these improper ways that stand in contrast to the Torah.”
All these very thoughts of emunah and bitachon create angels of mercy and of kindness who accompany him and bring blessing to him and to his entire surroundings.
Bitachon Is a Mindset, Not A Onetime Thought
With these words, the Kav HaYashar teaches us a principle that we have noted in the past: The blessings that come to the ba’al bitachon come only when a person lives and breathes bitachon in all his affairs, all the time.
Bitachon is not a onetime thought that a person turns to when he’s in trouble or when he really needs something—but he doesn’t live his life in accordance with a bitachon mindset every day. Such a person is not considered a proper ba’al bitachon. This person simply wants the Ribbono shel Olam to get on board with his plans, he really wants his wishes to be fulfilled by Hashem, so he turns to Him in that moment.... If so, there is no reason for it to be יסובבנו חסד.... Why should he merit such a reward?
The Reward for Bitachon Comes with True Trust
Furthermore: As we explained earlier, the promise of חסד בה’ והבוטח יסובבנו, is not a reward—it is a direct outcome that happens when someone trusts in Hashem. But if a person merely has bitachon for one thing, why should chessed surround him in all his affairs?
In the ninth area in which the ba’al bitachon is superior to the alchemist, the Chovos HaLevavos taught us that the ba’al bitachon will be aided from Above in all his affairs, large and small. Everything will fall into place, because his bitachon will accompany him and bring him kindness and blessing in This World and in the Next World.
But there is a condition: A person must exhibit true bitachon in his daily life, in all his affairs. If he checks in with Hashem only when he needs something, there is no reason for him to merit the חסד יסובבנו.
If You Don’t Budge Without Hashem, You Will Merit Hashgachah Every Moment
The brachah that comes to the ba’al bitachon from Above works middah k’negged middah, measure for measure.
If a person has the kind of bitachon that accompanies him every moment of his life; if he has the sort of bitachon that makes him calm and serene, confident that Hashem will help him; then he will indeed merit that the bitachon brings the kind of chessed from Hashem that will accompany him constantly. Just as the bitachon surrounds him constantly, so too, the יסובבנו חסד operates on a constant basis.
The true meaning of a ba’al bitachon is that the person constantly looks toward Hashem... thousands of times a day; in every situation he finds himself, he thinks thoughts of emunah and bitachon. And every time he thinks such thoughts, he creates new angels of chessed!
These are malachim who were created by the fulfillment of the most basic mitzvos of emunah in Hashem. Thus, is it any surprise that הבוטח יסובבנו חסד בה’, he will be surrounded by chessed?! This Yid has—through his bitachon—surrounded himself with thousands of angels of kindness! He created and sustained them through his thoughts of bitachon!
Davening for Everything
Yosef HaTzaddik Doesn’t Move Without the Ribbono shel Olam
The Midrash Tanchuma (Parashas Vayeishev) asks: The Torah tells us, “Potifar saw that Hashem was with him [Yosef].” How did a rasha such as Potifar sense that Hashem was with his servant Yosef? How could he have had the spiritual sensitivity to understand this?
Says the Midrash Tanchuma, “It was because the Name of HaKadosh Baruch Hu did not depart from his [Yosef’s] lips. When he would go in to serve his master, he would whisper, ‘Master of the World! I place my trust in You. You are my Patron. Make me find favor and compassion in Your eyes, in the eyes of all those who see me, and in the eyes of Potifar my master.’
“And Potifar would ask him, ‘What are you whispering? Are you casting a spell over me?’ And Yosef would answer, ‘No, I am davening that I should find favor in your eyes.’ Hence, it says, ‘and his master saw that Hashem is with him.’”
Bitachon Is No Contradiction to Fulfilling Our Mission Properly
From this Midrash we see an important yesod in bitachon: Together with having bitachon in Hashem, Yosef davened that he should find favor in the eyes of his master.
One might think that if one is a ba’al bitachon he doesn’t need to care what anyone thinks of him. “Why does it matter what he thinks of me if I have Hashem?” But the truth is that a person has a mission on This World, and part of this is to fulfill the desires of those he works for, finding favor in their eyes. The ba’al bitachon understands that if the Ribbono shel Olam placed him in a certain situation, then he must fulfill the mission, and if he works for people, he must find favor in their eyes.
This is a sensitive balance, an area in which people may err. Some would say that a true ba’al bitachon doesn’t need to care what his boss thinks of him. “I have Hashem; I don’t need anyone else.” But this is not right, because he needs to fulfill his mission, and part of this is getting along with others properly.
This is how an ehrliche Yid looks at life. He takes his responsibilities seriously, and he constantly davens that he should be successful in his mission.
Those Who Connect to Hashem Merit More Hashgachah Pratis
The sefer Shomer Emunim (Ma’amar Hashgachah Pratis, Perek 23) cites this Midrash Tanchuma, explaining that the second part of the pasuk says מצליח ה’ עושה הוא ואשר, Hashem gave Yosef success in everything he did. Because אתו ה’ כי אדוניו וירא, his master saw that Hashem was with him (that is, he constantly davened to Hashem for success), therefore, עושה הוא ואשר מצליח ה’, Hashem gave him success in everything that he did.
It goes hand-in-hand. The more a Yid lives this way—the more he davens for every small thing in his life—the more he imports the שמים שם to this place, and thus, מצליח ה’, Hashem will bring him success.
The Shomer Emunim concludes: So it is with every person, at whatever level he may be; if the שמים שם is regularly found on his lips [i.e., he davens constantly, for everything], he will succeed at whatever he does! For those who constantly connect to emunah in the Hashgachah of the Creator merit greater Hashgachah Pratis.
For HaKadosh Baruch Hu repays middah k’negged midah, measure for measure. The more a person looks to Hashem for His mercy and His kindness, the more Hashem will look upon the person and give him success in all his endeavors—sometimes even more than to the tzaddik.
