All the: ַמ ָסעוֹ ת (travels of the Yidden in the Midbar) were moving forward, and suddenly, we have them going backwards to: תֹריִחַה יִפּ. Going back when you are travelling forward is very difficult; it slows down the process, and people hate this. It annoys them tremendously.
We must say that it was a big Zechus for them to do this, and especially that they did it with Achdus. RSRH points out that it says: בָשָׁיַּו ְבּדיִחָי ןוֹשָׁל (singular form) instead of: ַוָי ֻשׁוּב (plural). Just as prior to Matan Torah it says: ןַחִיַּורָהָה דֶגֶנ לֵאָרְשִׂי םָשׁ יתרו יט ב (דיִחָי ןוֹשָׁל) (singular) and their Achdus caused the Zechus of Matan Torah, so can we say over here.
יִפּתֹריִחַה was the place where the most spectacular Ness in history took place; i.e. K'riyas Yam Suf! Perhaps the power of Achdus has to do with K'riyas Yam Suf. Or maybe it was the fact that they had just conquered their Middos by going backwards.
For good reason did R' Zundel of Salant Zatzal say: הָבוֹטְל הָבָכַּﬠ לָכּ Every setback is L'tovah. Every: ִﬠיכּוּב delay is a Tova. There is no happenstance in this world. And when Hashem slows you down, it can be a tremendous Zechus, since you are accepting something that you dislike, and you are going against your Tevah. Indeed, every time a person accepts a situation that he dislikes, it is a miniature form of K'riyas Yam Suf.
Achdus is also a form of giving in, since you are letting go in favor of other people. When you “unite” and fuse with other people, then you are a versatile Anav like a piece of clay. Having Achdus means that you don’t insist on having your way. You tolerate others and their opinions. The true Anav is indeed “mush”. Like the sweet smelling Ketores which was a “crushed” combination of many kinds of spices.
Just like when before you take a big jump you bend down low; so you first stop and are happy without getting your wishes, and only then do you jump and do big things; i.e. your K'riyas Yam Suf. Avraham Avinu didn’t have children 100 years, and he never complained. In the end, he “laughs” with Yitzchok. This is the reward for patience.
As Long as You Try, You Are Zoche to Everything
If a person has a Ka'as problem, he should learn those Seforim that are: ְמעוֹ ֵר ר (motivate) him to stop getting in Ka'as. (There are special Seforim only about Ka'as). If he is full of Da'agas HaParnasa, then he needs Seforim on Bitachon. And he needs those Chazal’s and Pesukim that calm him down. The same with Kin'ah and Sin'ah, Atzlus, Atzvus, and Bittul Torah, etc. A Mussar Seder should cause you to calm down, and change you somewhat in the area that is hurting today.
Someone yelled at you today? Your Mussar should be something like: לָכּויָתוֹדִמ לַﬠ ריִבֲﬠַמַה, ויָﬠָשְׁפּ לָכּ וּנֶמִמ ןיִריִבֲﬠַמ זי ה"ר א Whoever forgoes his “rights”, they forgo of all his sins in Heaven. When you can’t handle all those Chovos (bills) and you can’t sleep, you need: 'הַבּ חַטְבִי רֶשֲׁא רֶבֶגַּה ˂וּרָבּ ז זי הימרי Blessed is the person who has Bitachon in Hashem. You pick the Passuk or Chazal that calms you down.
I heard in the name of the Chofetz Chaim that if a person goes to a Shiur in learning Sefer Chofetz Chaim, then he’s already not part of the: עָרָה ןוֹשָׁל יֵרְפַּסְמ תַכּ “Lashon Hara Club”, even if he’s not perfect with his Shmiras HaLashon. As long as you’re trying and aiming to improve in the important issues, you are already Kodesh Kodashim! R’ Chatzkel Levenstein said that every tiny move you make is priceless in Olam HaEmes. Every single positive Mach'shava to improve is a gold mine! Ashreichem!
So next time a “nudge” bothers you, realize that he is a test from Shamayim, and if you relax and accept, then you will be Zoche to greatness like K'riyas Yam Suf and Matan Torah. The same with those big buses who block the traffic, and when people keep you waiting, or your lofty dreams (whether in Ruchaniyus or Gashmiyus) aren’t happening so fast.
This is what Bitachon is all about; learning how to be “held up” from your plans and wishes, and being happy: ְבּ ִל ִשׁ ייעוּר without limit, since it’s Hashem’s Ratzon to delay. ןוֹצְר לֵטַּבְיֶּשׁ יֵדְכּ ,וֹנוֹצְר יֵנְפִּמ ˃ְנוֹצְר לֵטַּבּ יֵנְפִּמ םיִרֵחֲא˃ֶנוֹצְר אבות ב ד Nullify your Ratzon before His, so that He will nullify the Ratzon of others before yours. Just as you prove yourself to be satisfied in a dismal Matzav, so will Hashem satisfy you in a much more desirable situation.
When you insist that things ARE good (although they really aren’t), then in the end they will be totally-good: ְכּ ְפּשׁוּוֹט clearly. Hold on and wait! Keep waiting and waiting!
So the next time you're waiting-and-waiting for a Yeshua (or for a traffic jam to move, or a person is wasting your time) remember that the Zechus of accepting long delays caused the greatest Mofesim (like K'riyas Yam Suf) and expect incredible Nisei Nissim, since you have the incredible Zechus of waiting overtime while you haven’t seen Yeshuos, despite all your hard work on Bitachon.
I was M'kabel from my Rabbeim that when things get super difficult, it is actually a sign for an upcoming Yeshua; if you continue learning Shaar HaBitachon overtime, and you clear your brain from Yi'ush.
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