Parshas Masei begins with the account of all the travels of the Yidden in the Midbar, naming each of the 42 masos travels by name, e.g., they left: Dafka the place called “Dafka” and rested in: Alush. Whoever heard of “Dafka” and “Alush”? And what difference does it make to us? This whole Parsha of: masos travels is a strong message to us. We need to value every inch of our lives. Everything has a purpose, and the masos travels were Nisyonos in Savlanus (patience and tolerance). So many stop-signs all over the Midbar; they are a message that in your life, expect loads of: ikuvim (delays) and: meniyos (things you want that are withheld from you).
When people have a hard time waiting for a Shidduch, a business deal, having children, or getting into a Yeshiva, etc. they should remember Parshas Masei. Life is full of all kinds of disappointments. Not getting what you want is one of the greatest achievements of all mankind; if you accept your situation.
You Get Olam HaBah for Accepting All Those Situations That You Don’t Want
Waiting and waiting, and forever waiting is a tremendous discipline, and you get Olam HaBah for accepting all those situations that you don’t want. A: masa is a trip, and we don’t attach much importance to a trip, since it’s only a medium to get you to your final destination. But a Yid has to learn to value every inch of his life, since he is always being tested. And passing tests make you great, and gives you loads of Schar. (For example, respect and glorify and be: ma'arich (give great value to) those precious moments that you are standing like a klutz and waiting for a bus...)
When you rave all-day about the greatness of Torah, Tzedaka, patience, or Bitachon, then it all becomes easier to do, since you are: ma'arich (you give it value)! And when you make jokes and ridicule sins and weaknesses, they become much easier to overcome.
When Rabeinu Yonah in Mishlei explains what Mussar is, he says “to put-down the bad”. And earlier he says that “Mussar” means the scorn of Reshaim, and an awareness of the injury and damage they bring about. And in order to do what you’re supposed to do, you need to honor and appreciate what you’re doing. In Mishlei, Rabeinu Yonah says that when you are M'vazeh Chochma and Yiras Hashem, then you don’t learn, and he adds that you will not be Matzliach in learning Hashem’s wisdom if you don’t really value it.
You learn Torah and have Yiras Shamayim because you value and respect what you’re doing! And in the next Passuk, he says that when you are Osek in Chochma, it should be so precious and dear to you, that despite the great hardship involved, it should seem to you as if it was nothing. The reason why it becomes easy to learn Torah is because it is: yakar chashuv b'einav priceless, beloved, and thirsted for by you!
And he also says: harachasha v'gemula v'shalom v'oneg Think of the pleasure and the peace and Menucha and the tremendous reward that awaits you! Now you’ll become a true happy Masmid!
