As we’ve mentioned in the past, one of the fundamentals of Bitachon is to rely on Hashem to reward us for our Mitzvot, as the Hovot Halevavot tells us. This week’s parasha tells us that someone who murders by mistake is supposed to go to the
Ir Miklat/City of Refuge. It says in Bamidbar(35, 26–27),
וְאִם־יָצֹ֥א יֵצֵ֖א הָרֹצֵ֑חַ אֶת־גְּבוּל֙ עִ֣יר מִקְלָט֔ו .
If the murderer leaves the city of refuge…
וּמָצָ֤א אֹתוֹ֙ גֹּאֵ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם
And the closest of kin (to the victim) finds him…
וְרָצַ֞ח גֹּאֵ֤ל הַדָּם֙ אֶת־הָ֣רֹצֵ֔חַ אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ דָּֽם
The closest of kin may kill the murderer ( who accidentally killed his relative)
The Sifre, one of the early Midrashim, says that God’s measure of punishment is small (i.e. the amount of reward is 500 times the amount of punishment). So if, for the one step that he took out of the Ir Miklat, he gets the death penalty, surely, how much more so for God’s good measure, that a man will merit for himself and his future generations, for one good step.
It’s important to understand this concept of what one step can do for us.
The Pele Yoetz talks about this in many areas.
On the topic of Halicha, he says that, For every step that you take, walking to shul, or doing any mitzvah, you create an angel, a positive powerful angel for every step.
On the topic of Hachana, he speaks about Rabbi Avraham Halevi, who lived at the time of the Arizal. He was very well known for his efforts on behalf of Shabbat, and used to take the longer route, because the more steps you take, the more Mitzvot and reward you get.
On the topic of Heshek V’Hiba, he quotes the story of Nebuchadnezzar, who, at the time, was a scribe for the king of Bavel. The king wanted to send a letter to King Hizkiyah after he was healed, and he wrote, “Peace onto King Hizkiyah, peace to the city of Jerusalem, and peace to the great God.”
Nebuchadnezzar, the scribe, was not there when this letter was written, and when he came back and saw what they wrote, he asked why they placed “the great God“ last. He thought they should mention God first, then Jerusalem, and then the king. He ran for steps afterwards, and in the merit of those four steps he became a world leader. Yirmiyah the Navi was amazed at that, and God told him, “I paid for those four steps that he ran for My honor, and you are amazed at what is going on? Wait until I reward the Avot who ran in front of Me. How much more so will people be amazed and stunned at the reward that they are going to get.“
He writes that we don’t see the greatness and beauty of Mitzvot. We should be able to look and say to ourselves, “Look at the reward that Nebuchadnezzar got for such a small mitzvah. Imagine what is waiting for us in the future!“
On the topic of Shmiah/listening , the Pele Yoetz adds to this concept. He says that the Gemara tells us that one whiff of Olam Haba is greater than all of this world. What does this mean? We are living the life of Nebuchadnezzar. He got a kingdom as a reward for four steps. And not only that, but it says he ruled over the animals of the field as well. The Gemara tells us that he rode on a lion, tied by a snake.
And the Jewish people, even the empty ones of us, are full of Mitzvot like a pomegranate. How much more so will our reward be in Olam Haba? This is an important concept that we should never forget. We are relying on Hashem, not just for this world. Ultimately, the Big Boss will pay us in the next world, so much more.
Have a Shabbat Shalom.