We continue with the benefits of the Baal Bitachon over the alchemist.
The fifth advantage is that:
- שבעל הכימיה תחת יראה ופחד מלאכתו
The alchemist is always afraid of the king.
מן הגדול ועד הקטן שבעם
...He’s afraid of anyone and everyone because he’s in an illegal business.
These people, although they have riches, are always looking over their shoulder.
We hear stories of people in illegal businesses who have been turned in to the authorities by family members, wives or children. Bernie Madoff, for example, must’ve been scared his whole life of being caught. They might have the greatest, most lucrative business, but if it’s not legal they’re always scared. They might have everything going for them financially, but they’re scared.
Regarding the one who trusts in Hashem, however, regardless of the business he’s in, he not afraid of people. On the contrary, people are in awe of him.
Rabbi Yehudah Ades’ grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Ades, lived in Aleppo, Syria many years ago. He was once traveling by donkey on a short trip.
There was an Arab donkey driver who felt that he had a monopoly on the business and got upset with the rabbi for trying to hire a Jewish “driver.” The Arab threatened the rabbi, waving his had saying, “Wait till we get to the dessert, I’ll show you...” The rabbi was unfazed and replied that he wasn’t scared, that G-d had a יד חזקה- a strong arm, and that just as He had gotten the Jews through the desert before, He’d take care of the rabbi as well.
Sure enough, just then, as the Arab was standing by the donkey, the donkey kicked, causing the driver to break his ribs. He was moaning and groaning in pain for the rest of the trip and ended up asking Rav Ades for forgiveness for threatening him.
As we see from this, the Baal Bitachon has nothing to be scared of. The rabbi was living with yetziat mitzrayim on his mind at all times, as we are supposed to do. Moshe Rabbenu teaches us- Don’t cry, call out to
G-d. The Baal Bitachon calls out to Hashem for salvation and isn’t scared of these menaces.
Rabbi Ephraim Wachsman tells a similar story about a certain Sadik living in communist Russia. The KGB officers were known to interrogate, threaten and torture people. They once came to this rabbi with a gun, toting it around, threatening him.
The Sadik told the Russians that their “toy” didn’t scare him. It could only scare someone who believed in one world and many gods. He, who believed in one
G-d and two worlds, was not afraid. “So put away your toy”, he told them.
The rabbi was not intimidated and the officer backed off.
What did he mean?
If you only believe in one world, Olam Hazeh, and think that there are many forces that control your life, you’re in constant fear- never knowing which forces are controlling you.
However, if you believe in one G-d that controls everything and in many worlds, then you see that though it may be hard here, this isn’t the end. There’s another place to go after this where things will be right. You’re not scared of horrible things- even death isn’t scary. There’s another world.
That’s the power of the Baal Bitachon.
The Hovot HaLevavot teaches us:
והבוטח באלהים ייראוהו הגדולים ונכבדי בני אדם, אף החיות והאבנים מבקשות רצונו
Regarding the Baal Bitachon, people are in awe of him. Even animals are in awe of him, as we see in the Navi regarding Daniel with the lions. It’s not just Daniel though. There is a similar story involving the Or Hachaim Hakadosh.
Baalei Bitachon are constantly protected and not afraid.
The Hovot HaLevavot cites perek 91 of tehilim as a source for this:
כמו שנאמר במזמור יושב בסתר עליון (תהלים צא) עד אחריתו,
...With 1,000 falling on the left and 10,000 on the right..The Baal Bitachon is not afraid....
I highly recommend that you study Chapter 91, whether by sefaria.org or some other means. Go through each pasuk in the Perek, which shows what it means that the Baal Bitachon is never scared.