We have been discussing the Hovot Halevavot’s different reasons that we don’t have bitachon. One is them is that we aren’t knowledgeable enough in the mitzvot of Hashem. Namely, we don’t really appreciate or understand that there is a mitzvah to rely on Him. If we knew that it was a mitzvah to rely on Hashem, we would obviously be more comfortable doing so. If we knew that G-d asked us to, of course we would.
We mentioned that there is a discussion about where it says that you have to rely on Hashem. There’s a seeming contradiction, that beH we will address today, while at the same time bringing up another important source for Bitachon.
The Sefer Hinuch has a list of six constant mitzvoth that we can do, in our hearts, at anytime of day or night.
They are:
1.
אנכי ה׳ אלקיך אשר הוצאתך מארץ מצרים
Anochi Hashem- I am Hashem Your G-d that took you out of Egypt.
2.
לא יהיה לך אלקים אחרים
Don’t have another G-d but Me
3-Hashem is One
4-Love Hashem
5-Fear Hashem
and lastly ,
6-Don’t follow and stray after your heart and your eyes
The Hovot Halevavot also has a list of constant mitzvot, and most are in sync with the Sefer Hinuch, but one that the Hovot HaLevavot has, that the Sefer Hinuch seemingly left out, is Bitachon. That’s strange. Why would the Sefer Hinuch leave Bitachon out? One possible answer, based on the Sefer HaMitzvot HaKatzar is as follows. The Sefer HaMitzvot HaKatzar down an explanation of the Mitzvah of Anochi Hashem Elokecha ( I am Hashem Your G-d), and in that explanation, he answers our question as well.
He explains,
לידע שאותו שברא שמים וארץ הוא לבדו מושל מעלה ומטה ובד' רוחות כדכתיב (שמות כ') אנכי ה' אלהיך וגומר,
Know that the One who created heavens and earth, He alone controls above and below and all four corners of the earth, as it says Anochi Hashem.
Hashem controls the world. He did all the wonders. He took us out of Egypt. A person does not stub his toe down here unless it was decided above.
He continues”Based on this Mitzvah, after 120 years, they will ask you,צפית לישועה
Did you look forward to Hashem’s salvation?
This question is among the many other questions one will be asked, some of which which are:
1-Did you set aside time to learn?
2-Did you deal honestly in business?
3-Did you try to procreate?
4- Did you look forward to My salvation?
The first three questions are easy to understand, as they are all mitzvot in the Torah. But the Sefer Mitzvot HaKatzar is bothered.
והיכן כתיב מצוה זו?
Where does it say I have to look forward to Hashem’s salvation?
As we know, ( from the Bet HaLevi and Pele Yoetz ) looking forward to Hashem’s salvation doesn’t only refer to the final redemption. It means in every challenge of your life.
But where does it say that?
His answer is G-d says, Just like I saved you then, I’ll save you in the future.
When G-d revealed Himself to Moshe for the first time, He said אהיה אשר והיה -I will be that I will be
Rashi explains that to mean that “Just like I was there to save you from Egypt I will be here to save you from future challenges as well.”
So Anochi Hashem is the source for relying on Hashem to take you out of your problems.
This is also known as
Bitachon- Looking forward to Hashem’s salvation when you have a problem.
So, regarding our question of why the Sefer Hinuch didn’t mention bitachon as one of the six constant mitzvot, the answer is that he did! We thought he left it out, but that comes from the lack of understanding mitzvot. When the Sefer Hinuch says you have to believe Anochi Hashem - I am Your G-d that took you out of Egypt, That’s the same thing as saying you have to have bitachon.
So on one hand the Hovot HaLevavot doesn’t mention, “I am Hashem your G-d,” and on the other the Sefer Hinuch doesn’t mention Bitachon, but they are one in the same.
So we go back to our original source; If a person understood the mitzvot properly, he would do a better job in Bitachon. And if someone asked him where it says that you have to rely on Hashem, or suggest that it is presumptuous of us to just think that we could turn to Hashem to get us out of our problems, the answer he would give is that this was the first command that we heard from G-d as a nation; the first words that emanated out of G-d’s mouth, that every Jew heard, and for which we didn’t even need Moshe Rabbenu as an intermediary!
Hashem said,
“I am Hashem your G-d that took you out of Egypt” Not just, “I am Hashem your G-d.”
This means, “I am the One that took you out of Egypt, and I am the One that will take you out of your future problems.”
Putting all these pieces together gives us a better understanding, and a new conviction for how much G-d wants us to rely on Him, count on Him, and have Bitachon.
Have a wonderful day.
..
אלא ש”מ בזה תלוי, שכשם שי
לנו להאמין שהוציאנו ממצרים דכתיב אנכי ה’ אלהיך אשר הוצאתיך וגומר. ועל כרחין מאחר שהוא דיבור , הכי קאמר, כשם שאני רוצה שתאמינו בי שאני הוצאתי אתכם כך אני רוצה שתאמינו בי שאני ה' אלהיכם ואני עתיד לקבץ אתכם ולהושיעכם. .<:
.