It states (Bereishis 6:8) 'ה בעיני חן מצא ונח, "Noach found favor in the eyes of Hashem." Some explain that Noach found favor in Hashem's eyes because Noach believed that whatever happened to him, was 'ה בעיני, by Hashem's hashgachah pratis.
This emunah is essential during these turbulent times. We shouldn't think that the frightening situation in Eretz Yisrael happened by chance. Everything occurs בעיני 'ה, according to Hashem's hashgachah.
At the sheva brachos of a man's youngest child, the father stood up and said, "I married off all my eight children, and Hashem didn't help me."
His children hinted to their father that he should sit down and stop speaking. Their father humiliated them because how can he say Hashem didn't help him?
But the father kept speaking, explaining, "When someone says that Hashem helped him, he means that he did his part, and Hashem did His part. But I didn't do anything at all. Hashem did it all. Hashem didn't help me. He did everything!"
This is the level of emunah we must attain. It isn't our deeds; Hashem’s will runs the world.
A hint to this idea is in Tachanun when we say, חטאנו ואבותינו אנחנו אבל. This can be translated as, אנחנו אבל, when people say "we also did things," חטאנו אבותינו, this is a "father sin" (החטאים אבות אבי), a very grave sin. We must know that everything is from Hashem.
Some readers will say that they already know these ideas, and it is obvious. The answer is that even the obvious must be reviewed so that these truths will penetrate the depths of our souls.
A man approached Reb Nota Tzeinvert zt'l with a bright smile and said, "Today, I discovered that Hashem is kind and that He performs kindness." Reb Nota told him a story of a person who having difficulty understanding the Gemara he was learning. After toiling over the Gemara for some time, he discovered that Tosfos asks his question. He read Tosfos’ answer, and it resonated with him. On the margin of the Gemara, he wrote next to the Tosfos, "Also, me, Yankele from Yerushalayim, agree to Tosfos' answer." With this short story, Reb Nota taught this person that it is obvious and known that Hashem is kind. Hashem doesn't need his haskamah.
The man replied, "Is it forbidden to say that I saw that Hashem is kind?" Reb Nota quipped back, "Is it forbidden for me to tell you a story?"
Regarding our topic, perhaps it is known that Hashem does everything and that He is kind. To say such matters might be akin to saying, "I, Yankele, also agree..." Nevertheless, we should talk about and repeat these matters many times until we feel in our bones the truth that everything is from Hashem and is for our good.
Regarding the war that is happening now in Eretz Yisrael, r'l, we shouldn't say that the war is because of this person, or because of that country, and so on, because everything is entirely in Hashem's hands. As we wrote above, although we don't understand Hashem's reasons and ways, we believe that everything is just and for the ultimate good.
It states (Tehillim 42:8) לקול קורא תהום אל תהום צנורך, "Deep call to deep to the roar of Your water channel." Chazal say that תהום refers to the troubles that people suffer in life, and the hardships we endure from the goyim. These troubles are compared to the deep waters, which sometimes appear to be prepared to destroy everything. Reb Shamshon Refael Hirsh zt'l explains that the sea seems to be acting on its own, but the Torah clarifies, צנורך לקול, it obeys Hashem's voice. It will only do what Hashem decrees. A צנור can be translated as a pipe that pours water where one directs it. Similarly, the world’s troubles are directed precisely where, when, and how Hashem decrees, and nothing happens on its own.
