Welcome to the daily chizuk (encouragement). The pasuk (verse) says in Tehillim, “Hashem should guard you when you leave.” There are many reasons why a person has to leave home: to go to work, to go out to learn Torah, to go on a trip, even to get married, or just to go down the block. David HaMelech doesn’t specify which one he’s referring to, because all departures need Hashem’s guarding. We should never take anything for granted. Studies show that the majority of car accidents happen within five minutes of a person’s home. There are no guarantees. We need Hashem’s protection and help all the time.
This was a simple fact to our greats. When Avraham Avinu sent Eliezer to find a wife for Yitzchak, Eliezer said, “What if the girl doesn’t want to come with me?” The Midrash (rabbinic teaching) proves from Pesukim that at that moment Avraham got up to pray and said, “Hashem, please make sure that the trip is successful.” Now, this is Avraham, who was world-famous. He was very wealthy. He could have said, “Don’t worry, Eliezer. People will be lining up to come into our family.” But Avraham knows there are no guarantees. We always need Hashem’s help.
The Torah warns us: “Never say that it was my strength that made me all this wealth.” Rather, says the Torah, “It is Hashem who gave you the strength to make your wealth.” And the Targum (Aramaic translation) on that pasuk says, “Hashem is the one who gave you the thoughts to make that business deal.” If you had a great idea, Hashem put that idea in your head. We have to accustom ourselves to this thinking. We always need Hashem’s help. No matter how smart, rich, or good-looking you are, everything you have has come from Hashem. And to maintain what you have, you need Hashem’s help, Hashem’s protection.
The Otzar Midrashim tells a story of a wealthy man who was charitable but believed all of his successes came because of his intelligence and hard work. One day, this man went out to purchase some animals to resell, and Eliyahu HaNavi met him on the road, disguised as another merchant. He asked, “Where are you going?” The wealthy man replied, “I’m getting more animals for my business.” Eliyahu said, “You should say...” The businessman said, “Why? I have the money, I know how to negotiate, I’m fine.” Eliyahu warned him, “If you think like that, you won’t be successful.” As the man walked away, his wallet fell out of his pocket. Eliyahu picked it up and put it on an isolated rock in the forest.
The businessman worked hard at finding the perfect animals and got the right price. But, to his dismay, he couldn’t find his money, and the deal fell through. He went back home, got more money, and started back for the marketplace. This time, Eliyahu HaNavi disguised himself as an old man and asked the merchant, “Where are you headed?” The man still didn’t say, “Be'ezrat Hashem.” So Eliyahu warned him again, but the man didn’t care. The man became very tired and sat down for a nap. Eliyahu took his wallet and again put it by that rock. When the man woke up and found his wallet missing, he was very upset, but now he resolved, “I need Hashem’s help.”
When he came back a third time, Eliyahu disguised himself as a young boy and asked, “Where are you going, sir?” The man said, “Be'ezrat Hashem, I’m going to purchase some animals for my business.” The boy said, “Well, if you need my help getting them home, I’m available.” The man went, negotiated, got his price, and called the boy to help. On the way home, one of the animals broke away, ran into the forest, and stopped by that rock. The man said, “Oh, Baruch Hashem, Hashem gave me back all of my money.” The more we acknowledge that we need Hashem’s help, and the more we ask for Hashem’s help, the more help He will give us. Have a great day.