A Thought on Bitachon
From the shiurim on Kav Hashgachah Pratis
Because he believes strongly that Hashem will provide his customary fare, he is guaranteed to get it, and this is even more certain than one who trusts in the money he has in his pocket. While money is not protected from thieves or from other means of loss, his bitachon is an absolute safety net.
Moreover, one who trusts in Hashem does not need to feel that he is imposing on the public, since he is staunch in his emunah that he eats what Hashem gives him and that in reality, the community is not giving him anything, and everything he has is a gift from Hashem. As we see, Rava did not have a fattened hen and aged wine, yet specifically when the poor man needed it, his sister, whom he hadn’t seen in thirteen years, suddenly arrived and brought a fattened hen and aged wine.
This shows not only that the community does not give the poor man anything, but that his needs are given to the community for his sake. And perhaps Rava also ate from the fattened hen so that the guest would not eat alone, so it turns out that not only did the poor man not take from others, he also gave to them. Thus, one who truly trusts in Hashem is not an imposition or a burden on the community. Rather, he places himself in the Hands of the Creator, and the tzibbur benefits through him.
(Based on Madreigas Ha’adam, Shaar Habitachon ch. 2)
The Rich Man Receives When a Poor Man Needs
Hashem does not provide wealth for the rich man to think that he is giving people something of his own; rather, He gives money to the rich man when a poor man needs it, so that the poor man will receive his needs through him, in order to give the rich man zechuyos. This proves that the poor man is not eating someone else’s food, but rather he is eating the food that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives him. That’s why it says, “And You give to them” – to the rich people, “their food” – the poor people’s food, “in his time” – for each individual during his time of need.
The Individual Influences the Public
Hashem provides “their food” – the food of many people who are sitting together. If there is one among them who is accustomed to eating an extra fine dish, then Hashem sends to the entire group the kind of foods that the individual is accustomed to eating.
(Based on Me’or Einayim on Maseches Kesuvos)
One Who Trusts in Hashem Brings Shefa to Others as Well
The power of bitachon in Hashem is so strong that its results have no limits. Therefore, one who trusts in Hashem is not obligated to live very simply. He can get whatever he is accustomed to having, even if it is a fattened hen and aged wine. Hashem’s abilities are without limit, and
