We continue with the Bet Halevi talking to somebody that has no way out. He says that even if, heaven forbid, a challenge or misfortune is near and a person sees no way out, God's ways are hidden. Hashem is limitless. God's salvation can come in the blink of an eye and therefore the Gemara tells us in Berachot, Even if a sharp sword is on your neck, do not give up. Do not despair.
One of my favorite stories that illustrates this, as explained by Rav Moshe Malka a’h from Bnei Brak, is the story of Nakdimon. He was a wealthy man that lived in the times of the second Bet Hakmikdash. During a severe drought, Nakdimon wanted to ensure that the Jews coming to Yerushalayim for the holidays would have enough water, so he borrowed the rights to use the wells of a non-Jew. He promised that all the wells would be filled by a certain time, either by rain (if the drought was over), or if not, he would pay him an exorbitant amount of money. He would pay him back by filling those same wells with gold. After the holiday, the drought continued, and no rain fell. On the day the debt was due to be paid, the wells were still empty. In the morning, the lender told Nakdimon to pay the money. Nakdimon answered that he still had time - until sundown.
In the afternoon, the lender again demanded his money. There was only a short amount of time left and there was not a cloud in the sky.
Nakdimon went into the Bet Hamikdash and prayed to Hashem while this lender went to the bathhouse to celebrate with his friends.
Sure enough, a drenching rain fell. However, since it was at the very last minute, it looked like it came too late. It seemed like it was past the deadline, and the lender demanded that the money be paid. In actuality, it was not past the deadline, but it was too close for a human being to discern.
So Nakdimon went back to the Bet Hamikdash and prayed, and another miracle happened. The clouds dispersed, and although the time for the sun to set had passed, the sun remained in its place and was still shining. Thus, the rain had indeed fallen before nightfall. Rav Moshe Malka asked, why did Hashem wait until the very last moment? If He was going to help Nakdimon anyway, why didn't He help him earlier?
He answered that, number one, Hashem wanted to give Nakdimon an opportunity to to prove the extent of his faith- whether he was truly confident in Hashem's ability to help at the very last moment, and also to teach us a lesson – that Hashem is not like human beings that have to get to airport on time because they’re afraid they’ll miss their flight. He's the pilot, He's flying the plane. There's no such thing as too late. It's never too late. Hashem saved us when we were at the 49th level of Tumah in Mitzrayim. In another second, we would've never come out. Why did God wait until the last second? To teach that lesson. Like we say, the source for Sipita LYeshua/Looking forward to the salvation, according to the Smak, is from Anochi Hashem Asher Hotzeticha M’Eretz Mitzrayim, I am Hashem your God, that took you out of Egypt.
What does that mean? Just like I took you out of Egypt, hope to Me now and I'll take you out of your problem now.
And here’s the added twist:
Just like I took you out of Egypt at the last moment; I tested you until the last moment, the same is true today. Today I'll save you, but you're going to get the money for your mortgage with only a minute to go. Why? Again, the two reasons. Number one, to test you. And number two, because why rush it? Why should the pilot come to the plane two hours early? He'll come when he needs to, because the plane is not leaving without him.
I'll give another example that’s a bit graphic. There's a game called Chicken. The game is played in places where they have nothing else to do for fun.
They play in elevator shafts. The elevator comes down the shaft, two people stick their heads in the shaft as the elevator approaches, and the last one to pull his head out wins. The guy that pulled it out early is called the chicken. The only problem with the game is that sometimes the guy who's not the chicken loses his head because he waited until the last minute.
But what happens if you control the elevator? Then of course you could stick your head in the elevator shaft until the last minute, because you can always hit the stop button. You're controlling the elevator. So, there's no fear, there's no apprehension, there's no anxiety. You're in control. And therefore, if we realize that Hashem is in control, there's no room to be a chicken, even at the last minute. Because I know He is in control and He’s never late. That's the concept of Even at the last minute, don't give up hope.
Have a wonderful day.