CHOCHMAS NASHIM: RE’EH: A THIMBLE OR A GALLON?
By: Suri Davis
I want to hone in on a verse in this week’s torah portion:
Deuteronomy 12:28: “Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the sight of G-d.”
This hearkens back to the time the Jews were standing at the foot of Mount Sinai and G-d asked them if they wanted the Torah, after offering it to the other nations of the world. We replied “naaseh v’nishma/we we do and we will listen,” in other words they were so eager to accept the Torah and bond with G-d, that they were ready to accept all that G-d would ask them to do, without knowing what the commandments were, or how to observe them.
It appears to me, that G-d is touching upon that eagerness to bond, when stating this verse. How can one perform the commandments unless he hears them first. The answer is that G-d wants to tap into that deep affection, wanting them to observe and be ready to observe even before knowing the details of that observance.
We have to tap into this eagerness as we enter the month of Elul this week. Take a moment to yourself and feel the opportunity starting this Tuesday, when our king, G-d, opens the doors to His palace, and visits His followers in the field, wanting to hear from them, wanting to know what they feel is important to them.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS, ask for anything BUT you have to believe that Hashem kol yachol/is omnipotent, that He can do anything. He has vast and unlimited resources which He wants to give you, with which He can bestow upon you anything you desire. Furthermore, He doesn’t have to take from the rich to give to the poor, He can give all according to their wonts and needs. He isn’t jealous of your success, in fact, as a pure-play father, He wants and demands your success and gives you a manual on how to succeed.
G-d is limited only by the faith and trust you put in Him. If He wants to give you a gallon of brachot/blessings, and you appear in front of Him with a thimble, He may not give you more than the thimble of trust you have in Him, but because He is G-d and understanding, He gives us more than we ask for, certainly more than we deserve, sometimes because He knows we are doing our best, sometimes because He knows our intent, and sometimes on account for what you will do in future. He is unlike a human benefactor with limited funds, needing to allocate resources among those whom He loves, He not a human who may become jealous, or someone with limited cognitive capacity as G-d is omniscient.
Rabbeinu Bchayai, in his book Shaar Habitachon, is clear that if you think that your income is limited to your boss, and you have to kowtow to him and spend endless amounts of time working to please him, then G-d will permit you your folly and you will be subject to your boss’ whims and follies and jealousies and limited funds. If you keep your perspective, do your hishtadlut/put in your natural efforts at work, and trust that the boss is merely one means with which G-d could provide to man, then G-d will provide you more than the boss would provide you with his natural inclination.
If man truly believes that a doctor and doctor’s tests and medicines are the source of his healing, G-d will permit him this folly, and he will be subject to the natural course of events. If man believes that G-d can do more than doctors say will happen in the natural course of events, then you are coming to G-d with a gallon cup, ready to receive a gallon of blessings, rather than with a thimble when G-d wants to give you a gallon of blessings.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE, HAVE FAITH, HAVE TRUST, G-D CAN DO IT ALL, IF YOU JUST BELIEVE AND TRUST.
How many times did a client of mine go into hospice because doctors believed that he would die within days or months, and the client lived for years. Yes, doctors are scientists, and science is from G-d as well, but those who believe in G-d are not restricted to nature, they believe that G-d can heal, when man can’t.
BELIEVE.
Have a good Shabbos, gutten chodesh. Greet the King with joy and trepidation and expectations that He will bring the complete redemption speedily in our days.
-Suri