Our Benevolent Father Carries Us Lovingly Every Moment
The Ba’al Shem Tov writes: “A Yid must always be joyful, knowing and believing that the Shechinah is constantly with him and guarding him—that he looks toward the Creator, may His name be blessed, and that He in turn looks at him. We must imagine that the Ribbono shel Olam looks constantly into our eyes—because He wants to take care of you. When we doze off, our eyes are closed. But the Ribbono shel Olam never slumbers nor sleeps; He’s constantly looking at you with boundless love. He thinks: What’s bothering this Yid? How can we care for him? How can we improve things for him? It’s a gaze that is filled with mercy and compassion.
The eyes of Hashem, as it were, says the Ba’al Shem Tov, gaze at you 24 hours, seven days a week, with overwhelming love and concern. The problem is that we don’t appreciate this—because, in our lexicon, when you say that someone worries about you constantly, we consider that he has myriads of other things on his mind. He has other needs that he must attend to—and a human being is incapable of focusing his mind on just one thing. But the Ribbono shel Olam can do anything. He can focus on you completely—as though there were nothing else in the world.
Why Don’t I See It?
When we hear this, we may sometimes think of a thought that we’re embarrassed to express: If the Ribbono shel Olam is truly constantly looking at me with complete focus, with compassion and love, how can it be that I am going through challenges and difficulties?
Of course, we don’t know all the Heavenly calculations. And we know and believe that the Ribbono shel Olam is a ומטיב טוב, He is good and He always does what is good for us. But when such a thought comes to mind, it must awaken us to introspect—to realize that we have forgotten this reality. Because the rule is: the more we remember that the Ribbono shel Olam constantly concerns Himself about us, the more we will receive revealed shefa.
Your Father Is Carrying You Upon His Shoulders!
This yesod is brought by the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh regarding the pasuk אלוקיכם בה' מאמינים אינכם הזה ובדבר, and yet in this matter you do not believe in Hashem, your G-d (Devarim 1:32). Chazal tell us that Amalek came because the Yidden asked, אין אם בקרבנו ה' "היש, is Hashem among us or not?” Says the Midrash, this is like a child who rides upon his father’s shoulders—yet asks everyone he encounters, “Have you seen my father?” This causes his father great pain. “You’re riding upon my shoulders, and you’re asking whether I’m even here?! I will cast you down, and the enemy will come and dominate you! Then you will see that I was here all along, protecting you.”
Similarly, Hashem had been carrying the Yidden upon הכבוד ענני throughout their journey in the desert, and still they asked whether Hashem was among them! Thereafter, He allowed the enemy—Amalek—to come...
Don’t Forget the Endless Kindnesses
The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh provides an incredible insight into this Midrash—and every Yid who’s alarmed when the shefa doesn’t reach him should first learn this and understand that Moshe Rabbeinu is speaking to him!
Moshe Rabbeinu says: מאמינים אינכם הזה ובדבר—“this thing” refers to all the kindnesses that the Ribbono shel Olam had done for them in the Midbar. And yet, when they encountered a small problem, they forgot the incredible miracles that Hashem had done for them. He carried them just as a father carries his young child on his shoulders.
You wonder why the shefa is withheld? Yesterday, you were given life, food, health, etc. Hashem arranged your every need with so much mercy and compassion and love. And now, when you experience a challenge (which probably originates from forgetting Hashem), and things aren’t going as you want them to, you forgot about the Ribbono shel Olam, and you wonder where He is in your life.... You’re on My shoulders! —and you think I’m not here?! If so, I will conceal Myself a bit more, so you will appreciate how much I had been in your life until now, shielding you from troubles.
Do We Doubt That Hashem Is Here?
This may sound a bit harsh, but we must study it, because it’s the truth. Sometimes, a person experiences a problem. And he davens for it. But amid his davening, a thought creeps in... a feeling of ...בקרבנו ה' היש He wonders, “Where is Hashem? I must remind Him about my problem.”
He doesn’t say it out loud, and he doesn’t say it as directly as those who say, “Where was G-d during the Holocaust?” He doesn’t speak this way, chas v’shalom. But deep in his heart, he wonders, “I did this mitzvah. I performed this segulah... [he forgets about any aveiros that he may have done; he remembers only his good deeds], and he wonders: How can it be that I should need to struggle this much? I’ve davened so hard... and yet, I’m struggling.
He Doesn’t Abandon You for a Moment
This is what the pasuk means when it says that we don’t believe. We think such thoughts at the very moment that we’re being carried upon loving shoulders. Reflect on the countless kindnesses that He is doing for us at this very moment! We’re alive! We’re walking around healthy!
We should be jumping for joy and gratitude when we recite יצר אשר for the kindness that we have just been given!—and these are just tiny examples of the thousands of kindnesses we experience throughout the day. In this day alone, we have been given so much! But because one thing didn’t go as planned, we become bitter, saying, “How can this be? Why isn’t the Ribbono shel Olam looking at me... I am such a good person....”
Such thoughts may cause the Ribbono shel Olam to conceal Himself, chas v’shalom. Not because He wants to punish us, but because we forgot that we’re riding on His shoulders. Now, we must go through challenges—so we will remember that it was the Ribbono shel Olam Who had been watching us all this time.
The Ohr HaChaim is teaching us that when a person experiences a challenge, and he doesn’t feel that the Ribbono shel Olam is looking at him and caring for him.... he’s struggling for a long time, and nothing is moving, he should reflect and think that perhaps this is due to his thoughts of ...בקרבנו ה' היש. Of course, not all yissurim can be attributed to this—there are many Heavenly calculations that go into the concept of suffering—but this is a possible cause. When a person forgets that he’s on his Father’s shoulders, he may need to be reminded.
Remembering and Reiterating Chasdei Hashem
Thus, the eitzah for a Yid when he finds himself in a challenging situation is to think the exact opposite thoughts—as the further pesukim enjoin us.
The Torah tells us, “You’re struggling with one area of your life... but look around at the thousands of kindnesses that you’re given all day, every day. When you reflect upon them, when you awaken yourself to this truth, you will understand and appreciate that the Ribbono shel Olam never sleeps or slumbers—He doesn’t forget about you for even one moment.”
If so, we must understand that everything is for our good. We must always consider the fact that this challenge came because we forgot Him—but the Ribbono shel Olam never forgets us. We must feel great serenity because the Ribbono shel Olam is guiding and leading us through every situation with tremendous compassion and mercy. He watches over us, He is concerned for us, and He assists us toward great success.
If You’re Alive, You’re Being Thought About
The Unconditional Heavenly Compassion
Here we must note a point about which many people are often mistaken. Sometimes, a Yid commits an aveirah, R”l, and he knows that he deserves a punishment for it, because he did something he shouldn’t have. If so, he thinks, “How can it be that the Ribbono shel Olam still loves me and thinks about me? He surely wants nothing to do with me right now... He’s ignoring me, because I have sinned....”
The answer to this mistake is found in the Me’or Einayim (Parashas Yisro), where the Rebbe urges us to think the following: If I am alive right now, it must be that I am receiving sustenance and life from the Ribbono shel Olam—despite everything I have done.
Of course, we must be greatly ashamed of our aveirah. But the reality is that we’re continuing to receive life—and not just life, but health and countless other miracles. This means that the Ribbono shel Olam is busy with us. He is looking at us with sadness and pity.... We’re indeed struggling with our specific problems... we’re going through tremendous pain... but all around us is so much kindness—because Hashem constantly looks at us with mercy and compassion.
Your Very Life Is Proof
The Me’or Einayim is telling us that when a person does things he should not, he should continue to believe and daven, because Hashem hasn’t removed His gaze from him for one moment! If you’re ashamed, do teshuvah. But don’t turn away. Look back at Him!
If it were true that the Ribbono shel Olam looked away from someone because of his aveiros, he wouldn’t be alive right now! He wouldn’t merely have some peripheral problems—monetary or otherwise—his entire existence would cease! This is clear proof that the Ribbono shel Olam continues to look at all Yidden with great compassion and mercy.
The Father Who Waited at the Bench
There was sadly a bachur in Eretz Yisrael fell in with the wrong crowd and began rooming with them in an apartment in Tel Aviv. His heartbroken father gathered his tallis and tefillim, along with his linen, and sat down on a bench across the street from the apartment.
Then he called up his son, and said, “You should know that I am sitting on the bench outside, waiting for you to return.” His son replied, “You’re wasting your time. I’m not coming back.” But the father was unfazed. “I’m not telling you what to do. I’m informing you that I will wait here until you return home. I will not abandon you. I will eat and sleep here, and I will not budge.”
At first, the boy was stubborn. But every time he looked out of the window and saw his father sitting there, it tore at his heart. As much as he wanted his father to leave, he remained right where he was. This demonstration of a father’s love eventually won over... the boy broke down, his love was awakened, and he returned home.
We’re Afraid to Think About It
If we were to appreciate the truth about how much the Ribbono shel Olam sits and waits for us, even after we have sinned, this alone would cause us to do complete teshuvah! The problem is that we’re afraid to think of how much the Ribbono shel Olam continues to look after us! Because it’s not always comfortable to live with this thought.
Sometimes, it’s convenient to forget that Hashem neither sleeps nor slumbers. We may think that we would prefer it if Hashem didn’t look at us right now. “Now I want to let myself go... I want to enjoy some good food....” And then we wonder where the Ribbono shel Olam is in our lives. But Hashem says to us: I am here the entire time; I am looking right at you with love and compassion.
Let us remember that the Ribbono shel Olam watches every Yid constantly—because He wants to provide our shefa. Even if we have closed the door, even if we have run away and committed an aveirah, the Ribbono shel Olam remembers us throughout it all. He continues to want to help us. He is constantly here with us. Proof of this is that we’re alive and well.
No Moment Without Siyata DiShmaya
The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh in Parashas Mishpatim reveals an incredible yesod: There’s no moment or second that Hashem doesn’t do something for a person regarding his body or his needs. So long as a person is alive and his body is functioning, he is surrounded by miracles and love!—no matter what he has done! Hashem neither sleeps nor slumbers, and He never forgets us!
If a person does feel that Hashem has, chas v’shalom, abandoned him, he should understand: All that happened is that he forgot the fact that Hashem doesn’t take a rest or a break from thinking about us. The person has moved away from the truth—either because he doesn’t have the ability to comprehend that it is even possible for someone to focus on him so completely or because it’s uncomfortable to contemplate such a thing.
This is why he ran away, and it is for this reason that he’s feeling the concealment. Remember Hashem’s constant Presence! Reflect upon it. And then you will once again feel the eyes of Hashem upon you.
Dovid HaMelech says, צדיקים אל ה' עיני, the eyes of Hashem are upon the righteous. They merit a special Hashgachah. Why? Because they in turn fulfill the verse, ישברו אליך כל עיני, the eyes of all look to you with hope. The more a person turns his eyes to Hashem—becoming aware of His Presence in his life—the more he will merit the eyes of Hashem upon him, and the more he will experience revealed good. This is also the principle of צלך ה', Hashem is your shadow. He behaves toward us in the same measure as we do toward Him.
I Can Rest Assured; Someone Is Concerned About My Every Step
Friendly Reminders
An incredible yesod is brought in the Kedushas Levi, who is among our great masters and teachers in the area of bitachon. He writes in Parashas Vayeira that often, the Ribbono shel Olam will send us a yeshuah, a Heavenly smile—but it’s not due to anything we did to earn it.
This salvation—whether a person earned a nice amount of money, he was spared from a certain dilemma, etc.—is expressly so that we should see that the Ribbono shel Olam watches over us constantly, and He doesn’t remove His gaze from us for a moment.
The yetzer hara works very hard to ensure that even when we witness such hashgachah, we should remember about it for 15 minutes, not more. But the Ribbono shel Olam has compassion and mercy on us and therefore sends us big yeshuos so we shouldn’t be able to forget this—so we should constantly be reminded that Hashem neither slumbers nor sleeps. If you have witnessed this, then you must remember it later on as well. You must rest assured that He will help you in other areas as well, even though you may not know when and how. Remember that He thinks about you constantly, and that He is watching you every moment.
Remember and Reflect
Thus, the Chovos HaLevavos is teaching us here that the reason we depend and rely on others is because we think that it’s possible for them to keep us in mind—when the reality is that no human being in the world is capable of thinking of us constantly. A human being cannot possibly think about anything for 24 hours a day; only the Master of the World does this for each and every one of us.
But we forget this reality. We forget that ישראל שומר יישן ולא ינום לא הנה, our Guardian neither sleeps nor slumbers. In fact, it’s often more convenient for us not to think of this. And this, unfortunately, causes more concealment in many instances.
The eitzah for this, say the sefarim hakedoshim, is to constantly reflect upon the countless kindnesses that Hashem does for us constantly, in the past and in the present. Think about how much good you have in this moment, amid all your challenges! This will give you clarity to remember that He always remembers you, and if you learn this, you will have more bitachon in Hashem, and then things will automatically fall into place in all areas.
Daven, Then Trust
For this reason, Rebbe Pinchos of Koretz taught us that in some cases, when we find ourselves in a difficult situation, we shouldn’t even daven—but focus all our energies on trusting Hashem. This is because davening can sometimes be used as a vessel to express pain, as though the Ribbono shel Olam doesn’t know about our situation. This has the effect of distancing the person from the recognition that Hashem is constantly engaged with him.
If we find ourselves thinking such thoughts, we must “cast upon Hashem our lot”—throw our entire burden onto Him! We davened. Now, we must move forward with bitachon. The three tefillos that we daven every day bring great berachah and success—but we must emerge from our tefillos with serenity and trust. It’s even okay to recite Parashas HaMahn, because it’s part of davening. But if we find ourselves inclined to storm the Heavens even more, this may sometimes reveal erroneous thoughts.... The ba’al bitachon knows that the Ribbono shel loves him, He looks at him, and He knows exactly what he needs, and He doesn’t need my reminders about his problem.
A Story About Water Permits
The following is a story that comes to us from a firsthand source; it emphasizes the point that after we have completed our hishtadlus, we must abandon all efforts—and we must simply hand the matter over to the Ribbono shel Olam’s complete control (which we elaborated upon in previous shiurim).
A Yid built up a development of six homes, and he sold them to fellow Yidden. The homes were completed and waited for their new residents. But here, they encountered a problem. The health department, for bureaucratic reasons, refused to grant them water permits. Understandably, no one was able to move into a home without water.
This went on for six long months! Every month, the developer incurred thousands of dollars in costs—in addition to the terrible aggravation and the harassment of the buyers who constantly badgered him about what will happen, questions for which he had no answers....
Refocus—Even When You Feel Sorry for the Person
This Yid did everything he could, calling every contact he could think of. He ran around government offices, from one person to the next. He tried every segulah and tefillah... but there was one thing he didn’t try: distancing himself from the problem, refocusing, and giving the matter over to the Ribbono shel Olam.
It’s a great nisayon—for a person may think: How can I distract myself from the matter when there are six very upset families who are depending on me to straighten the matter out? Isn’t it my duty to keep working for them?
But the truth is that we must let go, even in such an instance. For as long as we tell ourselves that we can get it done, we’re actively causing it not to be resolved. Thus, the greatest favor he can do for the buyers is not to do so much! If he won’t distract himself from the problem, he’s making matters worse for them, and prolonging their limbo.
Salvation from Distraction
Eventually, he decided that since the first way isn’t working, he would try turning his focus away from the problem and then placing his trust in Hashem. It was a Sunday morning, and he made one phone call after davening. He didn’t do a single thing the entire rest of the week; he left the matter in the hands of the Ribbono shel Olam.
That Friday, he got the long-awaited notice that the matter was resolved, the problem had been solved. The permits had been issued, and the residents were free to move in at last.
It is surely not an easy avodah to distract ourselves, especially when we’re under so much stress. But if we make the effort—after davening and performing our hishtadlus—to put the problem aside, we thus announce that the Ribbono shel Olam knows precisely what we need, He looks into our eyes with love and mercy and compassion. This alone has the power to bring the yeshuah!
The person who distances himself from problems isn’t cold or aloof to other people’s needs. He simply understands the truth: the best way to make things happen is by letting go and handing the matter over completely to Hashem.... Someone is on the case! With this attitude and approach, Yidden are helped every day, with all kinds of yeshuos b’ruchniyus and b’gashmiyus.
