We continue with lessons from Yirmiyah HaNavi. When the manna came down in the desert, they taught us is in the desert the manna came down in the desert, the Torah tells us in Shemot פרק טז, לב that it should be placed למשמרת -as a safeguard. Rashi says it should be לגניזה - hidden. And as we know, the manna was placed in the Holy of Holies, an area that was off limits- in a sense, a protected museum for the manna, as the pasuk says, for future generations. Why?
Rashi explains that in the time of Yirmiyah, one of his rebukes was, “Why aren’t you toiling in Torah?” They responded that they have to work, they have to support their families, they don’t have time to learn. And Yirmiyah responded by taking the manna out of the Holy of Holies and gave them a lesson. He said, ראו דבר ה׳ Look at the word of G-d”Rashi says that it doesn’t say “Listen to the word of G-d” because wasn’t giving them a speech. He was showing them the manna. The manna is the word of G-d, as the pasuk says, “Man doesn’t live on bread alone, rather He lives on what emanates from the mouth of G-d.” The manna is דבר ה׳ the word of G-d. “בדבר ה׳ שמים נעשו״ -With the word of G-d the heavens were made”
And he told them this is how your forefathers survived in the desert.
הרבה שלוחים יש לו למקום -G-d has many messengers to prepare food for those that fear him.
That’s our lesson. G-d hasדבר ה׳
He commands people to support other people.
And not just people; He commands creations to support people as well. When the Hovot HaLevavot talks about this concept, he brings two quotes from Eliyahu HaNavi. One of them is in Melachim I, י״ז ,א
When Eliyahu is running away from Achav, Hashem tells him to hide in Nahal Crete, drink waters from the stream, and, Hashem says, “I commanded the ravens to bring you sustenance.”
As we know the ravens went into the kitchen of the very king that banished him and bring Eliyahu HaNavi food.
Does that mean G-d has a conversation with the ravens? The ravens were prophets?
It means that G-d put in the ravens to go take the food and fly over to Eliyahu and HaNavi and give it to him. That’s what it means to commanded. Anytime G-d puts something in the heart of someone, to act in a certain way, that is called a command.
Furthermore, there’s another story where the same words are used. Eliyahu was told to leave an area, go to Tsidon, to a widow that “I commanded to sustain you.” So Eliyahu went there, he met the widow and she sustained him. Did G-d speak to the widow? Was the widow a prophetess? No.
The Katav B’Kabalah says G-d put it in her heart. G-d puts things in people’s hearts, and they act upon it.
Someone asked me about this concept, if that’s the case, why should the person who gives the sustenance be rewarded, if G-d commanded it?
The answer is that when G-d commanded the ravens, of course they have no choice. But when G-d commands a person, it means that the person hears the voice, and he gets the message, but it’s up to him to act upon it. That’s an important principle.
Rav Wolbe said that every single day, there’s a Bat Kol ( heavenly echo) that goes out from Har Chorev, Har Sinai, that says, “Woe to the creations, from the disgrace of Torah.”
Who hears that?
The answer is, that everyone, in our hearts, hears that we should be learning Torah. Some people act on the voice some don’t. The Zohar says that 40 days from Rosh Hodesh Elul to Yom Kippur, a heavenly echo goes out that says, “Return, oh wayward children” We all hear the voice but some of us act on it and some of us don’t.
Further, Rav Wolbe says, there’s a heavenly echo that goes out 40 days before a child is born that says, “Bat Ploni L’Ploni- the daughter of So-and-so, should marry So-and-so.” Rav Wolbe says that when couple meets, they hear that sound. And if they don’t drown it out with other external factors, they’ll hear the voice and get married.
That’s the way G-d works. G-d puts idea into people’s minds, and they act upon it.
As I was preparing this class, I got a phone call from someone who asked if I know any Torah scholars in need of financial help. I said that actually I do. He said that there’s a person who wants to help out someone, and he sent me money. Hold on, I thought-
This is exactly what I was discussing, while preparing for this class! This man wanted Hatzlacha for someone, so he wanted to give money. He called a person, who called me. And I had the idea to give it to someone who I felt needed it. And it wasn’t me or the person who called me. This goes under that Hashem commanded it.
Hashem puts thoughts into people’s minds, and they act upon them. That’s how Hashem makes things happen.
That’s why Yirmiyah told the Jewish people. ראו דבר ה׳ See the word of G-d”
The word of G-d is what makes things happen to this very day. That was Yirmiyah’s lesson in the time of the Churban, and it’s a lesson for us.
“See the word of G-d” The word of G-d is all over the place, making everything happen.
Sometimes it gives us an opportunity to have a zechut.
Have a wonderful day.