money to live. The cake was appealing to them and they accepted the cake. Moshe and his wife thanked Rabbi Avraham and his wife for their hospitality and an uplifting Shabbos.
Meanwhile, as they were to leave Jerusalem, the was a tax collector at the border, who collected a tax from all those leaving Jerusalem. Now since Moshe had no money to pay he offered the cake instead of the money, and the tax collector who saw that the cake was beautiful, accepted it, and he let Moshe and his wife to go on their way!
Meanwhile, Rabbi Avrohom was preparing to make a wedding for his son, and the tax collector who was a close friend of Rabbi Avraham, decided to give him a present for the wedding. He brought the beautiful cake to the home of Rabbi Avrohom to serve at the wedding.
Rabbi Avrohom noticed that the cake was the same one they had baked for Moshe, and he cut open the cake and saw that the 100 Gold coins were still there! The dumfounded Rabbi Avraham saw with his own eyes that Hashem’s decree was so strong that any money that belonged to Moshe, even if it was given to Moshe as a present, would come back to Rabbi Avraham. No matter how hard he tried to give Moshe some of his money back, it still came right back to Rabbi Avraham! The fortune of Moshe was destined from Hashem where it was to end up.
Rabbi Avraham who was a righteous person, decided he must nullify the decree on Moshe. He prayed to Hashem to find a way to do this. One day, he felt that he received a message from heaven, that his prayers were answered.
Rabbi Avraham was excited that he went about searching for Moshe. Finally, after a while he caught up with him. They sat down to talk and Rabbi Avraham related to Moshe that he feels that the decree on him can be removed. Moshe became relieved, and asked what should he do now?
Rabbi Avraham told him “You have suffered much humiliation through your wanderings. If you agree to open your heart to needy people, I will lend you money to begin your business dealings. Hashem will give you success, and will became wealthy again!
Moshe could not believe how a stranger would be so kind to him, and his heart softened, and promised to open his doors to all needy people. They drew up a contract for the loan, and Moshe pledged in writing that he repents on his being a miser.
They parted ways, and in a short time, Moshe made some good deals and was able to repay Rabbi Avraham. He had enough to begin giving tzedaka, and as time went on he became wealthy again, and his doors opened up for all needy people. Moshe learned a valuable lesson. When Hashem says something will happen, it happens. But, Hashem has mercy when one does Teshuva with fullness.
Many thoughts are in the heart of man, but only Hashem's counsel will endure. The counsel of Hashem will stand forever, the thoughts of His heart throughout all generations. For He spoke and it came to be; He commanded and it stood.
Reprinted from the Parshas Shlach 5785 email of Pardes Yehuda.
