Sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh relates that Rav Fishel of Strikov zy”a was once approached by an impoverished chasid. This man had a daughter who was getting older, but he was unable to marry her off due to his lack of money. He cried to the Rebbe, “My situation is very bad. I have no eitzos. There is no natural way for me to get out of my troubles.”
The Rebbe advised him to purchase a lottery ticket, and blessed him that he should win and see continued success after that. The chasid went and bought a lottery ticket. However, as the time approached for the drawing, he didn’t have a single penny to purchase his Shabbos needs. He tried to obtain a loan to buy candles, wine, and challah, but he could not. Therefore, having no other choice, he sold the lottery ticket, and with that money, he bought food for Shabbos.
The following week, the winning number in the lottery was published. It was revealed that his ticket had won a total of 75,000 rubles, and the man who bought the ticket from him became extraordinarily rich in an instant. When the chasid found out about this, he went to the Rebbe and began to cry, telling him that he had no other choice but to sell the ticket because he had no bread to eat on Shabbos. Now, the ticket had won the lottery, and he did not receive anything! He remained as poor as he had always been.
When the Rebbe heard this, he said, “This is proof that I am not highly regarded by Hashem. Why would my advice lead to a course of events where the devout chasid has no funds for Shabbos and he is compelled to sell his ticket which I prayed for and even promised would succeed? Therefore, from now on I will no longer be a Rebbe or manhig.”
He closed the door of his room, not allowing anyone to enter. This caused great distress in the entire vicinity, as he was known as a miracle worker who could help people.
When Rav Bunim of Peshischa zy”a heard about this, he decided to go and comfort Rav Fishel so that he would open his door to receive the people once again. He went to him and asked, “Why do you not allow people to enter?” Rav Fishel answered by relating the story that he believed proved that he was not a tzadik.
Rav Bunim told him, “Chazal say (Moed Katan 16B) that a tzadik’s decree has the power to cancel out a Divine decree. However, in our Tefillos we recite: ‘A person should always fear Heaven... and who in all of Your handiwork, in the upper or lower realm, can tell You what to do...’ This seems to mean that no one is able to tell Hashem what to do, which seems to contradict the Gemara.
“The answer seems to be that although a tzadik can decree that a certain person should be helped by Hashem, he cannot tell Hashem how to help him. He cannot give Hashem eitzos. Rather, he can only tell Hashem who to help, and Hashem will decide how to do it.”
Rav Buni concluded, “Of course, you are considered a tzadik. If you tell Hashem to help this man, he will become wealthy. The problem was that you tried to tell Hashem how to make him rich, and that won’t work. From now on, don’t try to give Hashem eitzos. Just give people brachos.”
These words found favor in Rav Fishel’s eyes, and he once again admitted people to see him.
