The Way to Receive Shefa
Excerpts from the popular shiur by Harav Hatzaddik R’ Beirish Shneebalg shlit”a
Tzaddikim say that the parshiyos that are read during the winter months are filled with messages we can learn from.
The story of how Yaakov Avinu left Charan in order to find a wife needs to be learned and understood as well.
Yaakov Avinu left Be’er Sheva, taking with him a sizable sum of money in order to establish his home. As he leaves, he is chased by Esav’s son Elifaz, who wants to kill him. The encounter leaves Yaakov stripped of all his possessions, which he gives Elifaz in place of his life.
He arrives at Lavan’s home in Charan, where, based on logic, it seems he should have taken care of some technical details, married, and settled down. But no; once again, a painful journey begins. They agree that he’ll work seven years for Rachel; and at the end of those seven years Lavan tricks him and gives him Leah. He wants to make a respectable living working for Lavan, and once again, Lavan does not keep his word.
The question begs to be asked: Yaakov is the chosen one of the Avos, who was intimately and totally connected to Hashem yisbarach with bitachon and emunah. Why must he undergo all of these difficulties? It seems that someone with such strong bitachon should have had a good, easy life, without any pain or difficulty.
But herein lies the great secret, the true recipe for a life of complete bitachon.
A person thinks that in order to marry he needs money. He thinks that in order to provide for his home he needs to have dealings with honest people. No, no! He can get there with nothing. Hakadosh Baruch Hu takes care of everything.
And moreover, in order to be zocheh to divine shefa, a person must reach a situation of “lacking everything,” and rely only on Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and on no one and nothing else at all. So long as a person thinks he can manage things himself, Hashem leaves him to manage on his own. Only when he attains the awareness that he has nothing and he cannot manage on his own is he zocheh to shefa. He then has a peaceful, serene life, lacking nothing, and only good accompanies him always.
