Today we're going to try to explain a little bit about how the concept of how Bitachon works, especially when a person does not merit or deserve what he's getting. What's the system? How does it work? The Ramchal, in his sefer Da’at Tevunot, explains as follows (siman לו): “One of the main fundamentals is the concept of Hashem Echad/ Hashem is One,” which means, “from the tremendous Oneness of His control, there is nothing forcing God; God is under nobody's rules and regulations. And therefore, all the systems of justice and all the rules that are set up ultimately depend on His will. He's not forced into keeping anything. Whenever Hashem wants, He can say, “I am vetoing;” Just like the president has presidential veto power, so too, Hashem has veto power. As Hashem told Moshe Rabbenu,
וְחַנֹּתִי֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָחֹ֔ן
I will have compassion (or mercy ) on the one that I choose,” and the Gemara in Berachot 7A adds, “Even though he's not befitting.” That's how we know V’Et’hanan means Matnat Hinam/ a gift for free. The root of the word is חן chen.
If someone finds chen in God's eyes, he can get a free gift, which means he's not befitting. And the Ramchal connects this with Bitachon, because when a person relies on Hashem he’s really saying, “I believe Hashem is the One in charge and there are no other forces but Him.”
Thus, it’s a logical explanation, so to say, for Bitachon.
Yes, you don't deserve it, assuming that you’re following the regular systems of justice. But we can lift you above the regular system of justice, And then you're on the track called
וְחַנֹּתִי֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָחֹ֔ן
I will have compassion (or mercy ) on one that I choose.”
And once you're there, you're fit for Matnat Hinam/free gifts
The Midrash describes how Moshe Rabbenu went up to the Shamayim, and God showed him all different types of warehouses and treasure-houses of rewards and He said, “This one is for people that do good deeds…This one is for the person that takes care of orphans and widows… And He went through each treasure house, until He got to the biggest treasure house of all, and said, “This treasure house is for the people that don't deserve anything. This is the Matnat Hinam treasure house.”
Of course, you need to tap into that Matnat Hinam treasure house, but once you do tap into it, then the sky's the limit.
That, says the Ramchal, is the system of Bitachon.
He adds that when a person reaches that level, (quoting a pasuk in Yirmiyah 50,20)
יְבֻקַּ֞שׁ אֶת־עֲוֺ֤ן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאֵינֶ֔נּוּ
כִּ֥י אֶסְלַ֖ח לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אַשְׁאִֽיר
They will search for the sins of Israel and they don't exist…. I will forgive whoever's left over.
It’s interesting that in Sephardic Selichot (and possibly others) for Asara B’Tevet, and all fasts, we include this pasuk, because we’re trying to reach this level that there are no sins.
Does that mean that God looks for the sins but they're not there?
Actually, its that God decided to forgive whoever's left.
In another pasuk He says, “ I will do it for My sake.”
That means Yes, you don't deserve it. But ultimately Hashem will do it for His sake.
The Ramchal adds, “This is our comfort. We are poor.”
What is our comfort? What's going to keep us going?
That He's not checking on our deeds, He is not waiting for our merits. He is for sure going to save us anyway. Why? He is the boss over everything And He can do whatever He wants, when He wants.
But again, that has to be our belief. You can’t just say this, you have to really believe Hashem Echad/ Hashem is One and only.
If you really believe it, if you put your money where your mouth is, then when you say Hashem Echad, you're ready to give up your life. That means nothing's more important to you than Hashem. And it can’t just be lip service. If we really, really believe Hashem Echad, and we really believe that He's in control, and that He doesn't have to follow any rules, then we can merit this level called
וְחַנֹּתִי֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָחֹ֔ן
God decides to have mercy on who He wants to have mercy on.
And then we'll reach the level of
יְבֻקַּ֞שׁ אֶת־עֲוֺ֤ן יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאֵינֶ֔נּוּ
כִּ֥י אֶסְלַ֖ח לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר אשיר
Israel will search for the sin of Israel and it is no longer,
I will forgive whoever's left behind.