A Thought on Bitachon
From the shiurim on Kav Hashgacha Pratis
The disciple of the Gr”a, the great Reb Menachem Mendel of Chaslovich, commented: This is similar to what I heard in his name regarding what it says in maseches Megillah: It is not possible that the rabbanim did not know the meaning of the word yehavcha. In truth, they were in doubt regarding the middah of bitachon – does a person need to act according to his logical mind while trusting in Hashem that He will do what is good in His Eyes, or should one not rely on his own deeds and his own mind at all? Initially, they said that one certainly needs to act according to his logic and to pursue that which he needs, but he should also trust in Hashem. And therefore the word yehavcha was difficult to understand. It should have said tzarchecha. And then they heard that Raba bar bar Chana was carrying his baggage, and logically he should have offered the Arab remuneration in exchange for carrying it for him, but in fact he didn’t – and then the Arab, on his own, told him to take what he needed and to put the burden onto the camel.
This taught them that even regarding something that a person should logically offer to pay for, if it is Heavenly ordained, then someone of his own accord will ask him to do it. Thus the use of the word yehavcha is now clear: Even regarding something for which one should logically give something (the root of yehavcha, hav, means to give) in exchange for it, if it is min haShamayim, then someone else will ask to do it for you.
(Gr”a’s commentary on Mishlei)
The Crux of Bitachon – to Trust That Hashem Himself Will Do What Is Good for Him
The heilige Reb Chaim of Sanz ztk”l said: The chachamim certainly knew the meaning of the word yehavcha. However, they were in doubt regarding the meaning of the passuk “Cast your burden upon Hashem.”
How far does bitachon go? Does bitachon mean knowing that there is a Creator Who manages and supervises everything, and davening to Him to take away one’s burden? Or does it mean to trust that Hashem will do with him what he needs for his good, and when the time comes for it to be good for him, Hashem will remove the burden from upon him? When they saw that the Arab himself told Raba bar bar Chana to load his burden onto the camel, they understood that the crux of bitachon is to trust that Hashem Himself will certainly do what is good for the person, and this is the meaning of the words, “Cast your burden upon Hashem,” meaning that one should not want anything at all, but rather should know and believe that Hashem yisbarach Himself will do what is good for him, and anything that comes to him from Hashem is the best possible good for him.
(Darchei Chaim)
To Trust in Hashem That He Will Do What Is Best for Him
It seems from what it says in the Chovos Halevavos in the name of the chassid (and I found the same idea in Sefer ha’ikarim 3:24) that he would ask Hashem: If I ask for something that is not good for me, don’t give it to me, and You do what is good in Your Eyes. This is comparable to a person who is riding in a chariot and carrying his baggage on his shoulders. This is a foolish act, for it would be so much simpler for him to allow the horses to bear his burden.
“Cast your burden on Hashem” implies that your “burden” is the fact that you continually consider various plans and plots that will not necessarily bring about the conclusion you want, and this is why it says, “Cast your burden on Hashem...”
(Divrei Shaul, Chiddushei Aggados)
One Who Truly Trusts Needs No Hishtadlus
The Yehudi Hakadosh zy”a said that it can be proven from Megillah 18 that one who has true bitachon does not need to do anything. The question that arises on this gemara is: How is it possible that the rabbanim did not know the meaning of yehavcha? And the explanation is that they were really asking about bitachon and were unsure whether a person needs to do hishtadlus toward his parnassah and other things, or whether he does not need to do anything. They were unsure of what bitachon should look like. Does the person need to try to create the circumstances that will get him what he needs, or not? So Raba bar bar Chana said: I once was on the way and saw an Arab (and Tosafos explain that this was Eliyahu Hanavi), and although it would have been proper for me to ask him to place my baggage on his camel, I did not do so, for I had true bitachon in Hashem yisbarach that He would bring about my yeshuah. And then the merchant himself told me: Place your burden on the camel. Although I did nothing to make this happen, Hashem yisbarach helped me. And this proves that for true bitachon, there is no need to do hishtadlus.
(Kedushas Hayehudi)
When It Is Prepared for Him on High, Others Will Do It for Him
“Do not rely upon your wisdom” (Mishlei 3:5). One should not say: I’ll trust in Hashem, but I must act, and I must also rely upon my own intellect. Rather, Shlomo Hamelech said, your mind should not even be a means of support for you. Instead, trust in Hashem with all your heart, meaning that your heart should rely completely on Hashem, and then Hashem will bless you with everything.
