As we prepare for Shabbos Parshas Chukas an extraordinary Parsha with many Mitzvos and the Petira of both Aharon Hakohen and Miriam. I would like to share with you today a new Havana in the Cheit Mei Miriva. As you know, Rishonim bring many Peshatim in what Moshe Rabbeinu did wrong in the Maiseh Mei Miriva and the basic Pshat that the Velt knows is the Pshat of Rashi. Rashi says that Moshe Rabbeinu struck the stone instead of speaking to the stone. It seems at face value to be a very elementary mistake and the Onesh of the Cheit is not very understood.
The Netziv says a Gevaldige Pshat here in the Ha-meik Davar. He ties it in to what he calls a Hakdama in an Ikkur Gadol B'tefilla, of a big rule when it comes to Davening and he says the following Klal Gadol. Even when HKB"H plans to give you something, Tefilla expedites that it will take place. This is what HKB"H put into the world. He put into the Teva of the Briya that even if you are supposed to get something and Hashem wants to give it to you, there are times that it will only come your way if you Daven. The Raya is a beautiful Raya from Eliyahu Hanavi.
When Eliyahu Hanavi declared a drought on the ten Shevatim, the drought continued for a while and then the Ribbono Shel Olam came and said to him, the drought is over. I am going to make it rain. You go to Achav and do whatever you can to help give Mussar to Klal Yisrael because the Ribbono Shel Olam said I had enough, no more drought. Eliyahu goes to Har Hacarmel and does what he does at Har Hacarmel to show that the Aish came from Shamayim and then at the end he Davens and rain comes. The question is why does he have to Daven as HKB"H said that it is time to give rain?
Zagt the Netziv, there are two types of Davening. Bish'as Tzara, when in Shamayim we have no Zechusim, that is one type of Davening. Davening can turn it around. There is a second type of Davening and that is when the Ribbono Shel Olam is ready to give to you, but HKB"H says come pick it up, come here and ask for it, I am ready. Tefilla then makes it happen. Zagt the Netziv, in a case when the Ribbono Shel Olam is ready to give, there is no difference between the Tefilla of the Gadol Hador and the Tefilla of an ordinary person. When Hashem is ready to give it, all you have to do is come pick it up. Bish'as Tzarah, then you need the Tefilla of an Adam Gadol to be Mehapeich.
The Yesod is that Hashem put into the Briya that Davening makes things happen. Zagt the Netziv, look what I wrote in Beraishis in 2:5. The things that grow in the field are referred to as (Siyach Hasadeh). Literally, it means the things that grow in the field. But (Siyach) also means Davening. A field is Parnasa. What grows in a field is called (Siyach Hasadeh). It comes because of Tefilla. It comes because of Davening. Hashem put it that way into the Briya.
He says more. Davening is called Avodah. Korbanos are called Avodah. Working in a field is called Avodah. Making Parnasa happen comes through Avodah. B'derech Hateva working in a field, but Min Hashamayim if you put in your Davening and your Kavanos you can make it come, you can make it happen. That is why it is called Avodah. The same exact thing.
At any rate, this is the Yesod Gadol. The Yesod Gadol is that Tefilla is Po'el Parnasa, it brings Beracha. When you deserve it, you will find out someday that all you have to do is ask for it. You have Tzar that you don't have a Shidduch, you have Tzar that you don't have Parnasa, you have Tzar that you don't have something else that you want, why didn't you ask? Just ask. That is Tefilla. Ad Kan the Yesod of the Netziv.
Zagt the Netziv, what was the Aveira of the Mei Miriva, you hit the stone, you talk to the stone, ok. No! The Ribbono Shel Olam said Klal Yisrael lived B'derech Neis. The first time that water had to come from the stone, Moshe hit the stone and the water came. No more. Klal Yisrael is going into Eretz Yisrael the Ananei Hakavod are no more. Klal Yisrael has to learn that they are going into a world of Teva. In this world Davening is Po'el. They may think that Davening is only Po'el B'derech Neis. No! Davening is Po'el B'derech Teva.
Moshe Rabbeinu, it is a new Tekufa in Klal Yisrael. Talk to the stone. What do you mean talk to the stone? Daven that the water should come from the stone and then it will come. Moshe Rabbeinu made a mistake. He didn't teach Klal Yisrael. There was a P'gam in his Avodah as the Rebbi of Klal Yisrael and for that reason he lost his Shtella so to speak as the Rebbi of Klal Yisrael. What a beautiful Pshat in the Cheit Mei Miriva. Not a new Cheit, not a new explanation, but a Pshat in Rashi about the difference between talking to the stone and hitting the stone.