Today we will study Tehilim chapter 40 pasuk ה:
אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי הַגֶּ֗בֶר אֲשֶׁר־שָׂ֣ם ה׳ מִבְטַח֑וֹ וְֽלֹא־פָנָ֥ה אֶל־רְ֝הָבִ֗ים וְשָׂטֵ֥י כָזָֽב
Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem the One he relies on, who doesn’t turn to the arrogant, or to those that stray after falsehood.
This pasuk is clearly about bitachon.
Simply, it talks to everyone; discussing David HaMelech, who relied on Hashem and did not listen to his (arrogant) advisers who, at the time, told him to kill Shaul and take matters into his own hands. David HaMelech relied on Hashem.
And of course, this is speaking to every individual. A person should not turn to arrogant or crooked people for help, but rather, he should rely on Hashem.
The Midrash applies this pasuk specifically to Yosef Hasadik. When it says, “Fortunate is the man that relies on Hashem,” that is referring to Yosef. He did not turn to the Egyptians, who are arrogant.
But then, when he told the Sar Hamashkim/ wine steward to remember him twice, two years were added to his prison sentence.
Many people are bothered by this midrash. If Yosef was known as the man of reliance on Hashem, and he didn’t turn to the arrogant, why bring up this example of when he does turn to the arrogant, and gets two years added onto his sentence?
The Bet HaLevi explains that the ratio of Bitachon to Hishtadlut is not objective. How much we work versus how much we rely depends on the person. The more Bitachon you have, the less hishtadlut you have to do. And you will be held accountable for any extra hishtadlut that you do.
When Yosef told the wine stewed to remember him, that was a minimal amount of hishtadlut. He didn’t call him ten times. Sometimes you ask a person for something once, and then you ask him again.
At what point does this become over-hishtadlut/ too much effort?
Yosef Hasadik was on such a high level, that even though he had to do hishtadlut, he clearly saw that everything was happening from shamayim/heaven. The Wine steward had a dream, he interpreted it, etc. Since he saw everything falling into place, on his level, he really didn’t have to do any hishtadlut. Thus, the slightest amount of effort on his part was called over-hishtadlut. That is why he got punished.
The Bet HaLevi says that this shows how great his bitachon was. Yosef Hasadik was being held accountable because he should have relied purely on Bitachon. He should not have given that extra push of hishtadlut. This, in itself, is an indicator of how great his bitachon was. That is why, “Fortunate is the man,” refers to Yosef. He was the great Baal Bitachon. Because of that, he was held accountable.
Rav Shlomo Kruger offers another interpretation of this pasuk, which is also interesting. He says that Yosef told the wine steward that in another three days, he would get called back to Paroah. Then Yosef Hasadik immediately asked the Sar Hamashkim to remember him.
Rav Kluger says that on his level, Yosef Hasadik should have waited another 2 days, when the wine steward was actually going to be brought to Paroah. Who knows, maybe Hashem would have saved him earlier.
Why make hishtadlut right then, when it really didn’t make a difference?
That was early hishtadlut. Of course, everyone, on their own level, has to figure this out.
But sometimes when you need to take care of something, there is time. The Baal Bitachon waits a little longer. Why should he go through the effort now, for something that he may not have to be troubled for?
It is told that Brisker Rav had a kollel, and he had to pay his Avrechim on Rosh Hodesh. But he only worried about it the day before.
He would not worry two or three weeks before, for Hashem has his ways. Once it was the day before the checks were due, he would do his hishtadlut.
These are just some examples of how balancing bitachon and hishtadlut is like walking on a tightrope.
Fortunate is the man that relies on Hashem, and doesn’t turn, at all, to unnecessary Hishtadlut.
Have a wonderful day.