The Medrash (Bereishis Rabbah, 79) teaches: “Reb Shimon bar Yochai and Reb Elazar, his son, were hiding in a cave...and they ate carob fruits...and their bodies began to rot... One day they came out and sat at the cave's entrance. They saw a hunter trapping birds. When Reb Shimon heard a bas kol [heavenly voice] announce דימוס – free, the the bird managed to escape. When he heard the bas kol say ספקולה - captured, the hunter captured the bird. Reb Shimon exclaimed, 'We see that even a bird isn't captured unless it was decreed from heaven. Certainly, it is so for a human being. [The Romans won't be able to capture us if it isn't Hashem's decree].’ They left the cave and discovered that things had calmed down. The Roman decree against them was annulled.”
This Medrash teaches us an important lesson in hashgochah pratis. Everything is destined and planned by Hashem. Nothing happens by chance. Even if a bird should be captured is decreed from Above.
Probably, when this hunter caught a bird, he credited his expertise and experience. And when a bird got away, he scolded himself for not being a better hunter. Little did he know that it had nothing to do with him but about Hashem's decree for each creature. This is a lesson to remember in business and all areas of life. When you succeed, remember that it was from Hashem. And when you fail, it was also decreed from Above. We try our best, but ultimately, whatever occurs, is decreed in Heaven.
When Reb Shimon learned this lesson, he realized that the Romans couldn't harm him if it isn't decreed in heaven. With this in mind, he and his son left the cave.
