A Yissachar / Zebulun Partnership in Loving Memory of Yishak ben Simcha A"H & Felicia bat Miriam A"H
Rabbi David Ashear

Torah Lecture

Emuna Daily Lesson 188

Lectured by Rabbi David Ashear

Published
May 28, 2013
Duration
03:55
Lecture code
RDA-EDL188

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Welcome to the daily chizuk (encouragement). We have to constantly remind ourselves that everything that happens to a person comes from Hashem, even the way people act toward us. It's also nigzar min haShamayim (decreed from Heaven).

The Navi (prophet) tells us that David HaMelech was once walking when Shimei ben Gera started throwing rocks at him and cursing him. Avishai ben Tzeruyah asked the king, “Should we kill him?” David answered, “Leave him alone. If he's cursing me, it's because Hashem told him to curse me.” David HaMelech realized that people, although they have free will, are still messengers from Hashem.

I heard a story about Rav Aryeh Levine during the Second World War in Yerushalayim. There was starvation and death. The people in Yerushalayim were suffering terribly. There was a very wealthy man in the town who was lending money to people to buy food. Rav Aryeh Levine's children were starving, so he said, “I have to go and ask for a loan.” He went to the wealthy man, who said, “I'm sorry, I can't help you, Rabbi.” Rav Aryeh said, “Why not? You're helping everybody else.” The man said, “Yeah, that's because everybody knows I'm a rich man, and if I don't give to them, they're going to bad-mouth me, call me a miser, a lowlife, and say I'm not helping starving people. So them, I have to give. But you, Rabbi, I know that you won't hold a grudge against me, so I'm not giving you.” The Rabbi couldn't believe his ears. He went home and told his wife what happened. He said, “I don't understand, because I'm a nice guy and I don't talk bad about people. My children have to go hungry. It doesn't make any sense.”

His wife said back to him, “Aryeh, Aryeh, what's the matter with you? Where's your emunah (faith)? Listen to what you're saying. Why didn't he give you money? Because he's not rich enough? You know how much money he has. Is it because he's stingy? He gives everyone in the town. Is it because he doesn't trust you to pay him back? Last week, you found a gold coin of his in the shul (synagogue), and you walked barefoot for two miles to return it to him. So he knows you're trustworthy. He has the money. He's not stingy. Why didn't he give you the money? There's only one explanation. Hashem doesn't want you to get your help from him. Your help is meant to come from somewhere else, so stop worrying.” This is emunah. Nobody has any control over your life other than Hashem. Hashem decides which people you'll meet and which people will help you.

A woman told me she recently went to the Department of Youth and Community Development to get a grant for her school. It's usually very hard. There's only one day when you can go. There's a lot of paperwork involved and long lines. If everything is not perfect, you'll be denied and the deadline will pass. You'll have to wait another year. She went an hour early and was the first person there. A half hour later, a second person showed up and told her, “Make sure you sign in.” She went to sign in, and they said, “Okay, you're number two.” She said, “What? I was here alone for a half hour.” The other lady said, “Yeah, but you didn't sign in.” So instead of complaining, she said, “Okay, it's Me'et Hashem (from Hashem). I'll make a kiddush Hashem (sanctification of Hashem's name), and I'll stay calm.”

Then everybody started coming in. There were over a hundred people waiting, and they called the first name. The woman noticed that the person assigned to number one was a miserable person. She had dealt with her in the past. If there's even one minor error, she'll destroy your document and tell you, “Come back and try again next year.” Then number two was called, and she got the nicest lady, who helped her so much. She even went back and got last year's documents, corrected them, and gave her two years' worth of grants.

There are no mistakes. If Hashem wants you to have something, He'll make sure to send you the right messenger. Have a great day.