A Thought on Bitachon
From the shiurim on Kav Hashgachah Pratis
Trust That He’ll Receive the Help of Hashem Without Thinking of the Physical Efforts
This midrash teaches us the greatness of Yaakov’s bitachon. Naturally, even if a person trusts in Hashem, his mind conjures up thoughts about what physical means he will need in order to attain what he wants. Since he needs something and does not have the money, even though his heart is strong in the faith that Hashem will help him, nonetheless, he wonders how he could get hold of the money. Will Hakadosh Baruch Hu send his way an opportunity to earn money, or will he find a sum of money? It seems this thought process is not a lack of bitachon, since the circumstances – whatever they will be – can come about only through Hashem’s bringing them to him. Only afterward did Yaakov backtrack and realize that this was a blemish in his bitachon. Why should he trust that Hashem would send any sort of circumstances his way? Therefore, he concluded, “Ezri me’im Hashem – My help comes from Hashem,” and even without any external circumstances, He will assist me.
(Beis Halevi, Parshas Vayeitzei)
A Great Level of Bitachon
This seems to demand explanation. Why does Yaakov ask himself, “Will I now despair and lose faith in my Creator?” Could there even have been such a possibility in the mind of Yaakov Avinu – the chosen one of the Avos? Could he even have contemplated losing his bitachon?
We can say that he was referring to a certain very high level of bitachon. He contemplated how Eliezer had brought along money and possessions in order to disguise Hashem’s miracle through some sort of natural means. He wondered whether he was required to do the same. Then he realized that on his level of bitachon, it would have been wrong for him to make any sort of physical effort; rather, he should trust in Hashem completely, without any assistance from human beings. While for another person this sort of effort would not be considered a lack of bitachon, for Yaakov Avinu it would have been unwarranted.
(Ha’deah Ve’hadibbur)
Hashem’s Help Comes After the Knowledge That There Is No One Else Who Can Help
The Chiddushei Harim zt”l would say: Yaakov Avinu wondered about himself how he had come to think this thought that was not appropriate for him. Therefore, he said repeatedly, “Heaven forbid, I will not despair, nor will I lose faith in my Creator!” He meant that he was given this thought for his own benefit, for once he knew clearly that he himself was “nothing,” then the help of Hashem would come immediately and with great power.
This was something Yaakov Avinu accomplished for all the future doros, so that when Am Yisrael would seem to have no avenue of aid, that they would realize they were “nothing” and would know that there was no one who could help them, then comes the help of Hashem, Who created heaven and earth.
(Siach Sarfei Kodesh, Parshas Vayeitzei)
