When speaking of keeping Shmita, the seven-year cycle in which we do not work the land for a full year, Hashem addresses the potential fears.
The Torah says, “If you will ask, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year...?’ I will command My blessing in the sixth year and it will produce enough for three years.”
What happens if we don’t ask? The commentaries explain that the smaller amount of food we consume will expand inside of us and satisfy us. This is a bigger blessing, because we will have less work to do and remain just as satiated.
But there is something else to note here. Hashem could have said, “If you ask what you will eat, know that I promise to sustain you.” Hashem could have told us to have faith. But he didn’t.
Instead, He promised to give us enough in the sixth year to last us until we have fresh produce.
We see that Hashem understands that we are not all on the same level. We are each on our personal journey, and sometimes we can’t take the leap of faith. Hashem is OK with that, and doesn’t expect us to do more than we can at this moment.
The promise to give more in the sixth year is an extra reminder of how much Hashem loves us, and more reason for us to trust Him.
Thought of the week:
We are not physical beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a physical experience.
