A Thought on Bitachon
From the shiurim on Kav Hashgacha Pratis
“He [Yaakov Avinu] too was angry, because he had to resort to all this.”
Why does the Torah need to tell us that Yaakov Avinu was upset? He knew that Esav wanted to kill him – how could he not have been angry? Apparently, he was upset with himself, feeling that it must be that he did not have enough bitachon, for if his bitachon was strong enough he wouldn’t have been afraid at all, as the passuk states (Tehillim 118:6), “Hashem is here for me; I will not fear anything people might do to me.”
In the manner of a true tzaddik, Yaakov sought his own shortcomings to blame for the difficult situation he was facing. Esav, on the other hand, would always justify himself, considering himself blameless. Through this anger that Yaakov felt toward himself, he sanctified the middah of anger in the world, and in this way he nullified Esav’s anger.
Likewise, we find in the Zohar hakadosh (as explained by the Masok Midvash): If one truly trusts in Hashem, no power can cause him harm.
Another interpretation quotes the verse (Yeshayahu 26:4), “Trust in Hashem forever....” The Masok Midvash explains that the word forever means that a person should place his trust fully in Hashem, both in times of distress and in times of success. Never give up hope of Hashem’s rachamim. The Zohar teaches that having proper trust in Hashem, means that he doesn’t just give bitachon lip service while his reactions to hard times contradict his words. It means that he relies on Hashem in every situation, good or bad. If he does this no harm will befall him, unless Hashem sends difficulties for his benefit, to cleanse him of his sins.
As the final words of that same passuk state: “ki b’Kah Hashem Tzur olamim – for Kah Hashem is the Rock of the worlds.” Because Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the “Rock” and Source of power in the world, whoever relies on and trusts only Him will be enabled to endure.
(Masok Midvash on the Zohar, Parshas Va’eira p. 173b [Part 2, 22a])
