Today we continue on in Yeshaya chapter 26, discussing the secrets to surviving the end of time. Yeshaya tells us in pasuk ד
בִּטְחוּ בַה׳ עֲדֵי־עַד כִּי בְּיָ-הּ ה׳ צוּר עוֹלָמִים
Rely on Hashem forever
Because in the name of Hashem, He is the rock of the worlds.
What is the seemingly superfluous language, of mentioning Hashem’s name in two ways, with a Yud and a Heh, and then with the full name of Yud and Heh and Vav and Heh?
The Hovot HaLevavot, in the seventh chapter of Shaar Bitachon, discusses why people don’t have bitachon. One reason is that people don’t understand God properly. They don’t understand His mercy or how He deals with us, or His supervision.
They don’t know that God Himself commanded us to rely on Him. He brings two pesukim to prove that God asked us to rely on Him. One is the pasuk about Ma’aser, that says, “Test me with this,” in Malachi chapter 3.
The second pasuk he brings to prove that God asked us to rely on Him is this בִּטְחוּ בַה׳
This is a command from Yeshaya. Rely on Hashem. Therefore, we can’t wonder whether or not we deserve to rely on Hashem- because Hashem told us to rely Him.
Rabbenu Yonah explains the lesson of this pasuk, that Hashem is called Sur Olamim, the Rock or Creator of worlds, and therefore we should rely on Him.
He says that we need to realize, when we rely on Hashem, that in his words, God is the Kol Yachol, He is able to do anything.
Nothing stops Him. What shows us that He’s the Kol Yachol? We see it from this pasuk.
בִּטְחוּ בַה׳ עדי עד
He created everything. He created this world and the next world.
Everything is in His control. Therefore, rely on Him, because He the All Able. That is really what Kol Yachol means. All Able.
The proof of this is that He created this world and the next world.
The Gemarah in Berachot explains that anyone who relies on Hashem, God will be a refuge for him, in this world and the next.
We see this from the Yud & Heh. These letters refer to this world, which was created with a Heh, and the next world there was created with a Yud.
So the two worlds were created with just the two letters of God’s name. Imagine how powerful God is! The small Yud refers to Olam Habah, because it says that not everyone gets there, and the Heh refers to this world.
Hashem is All Able, and He created both worlds. This should give us hizuk. Hashem can create rainforests and killer whales. Look at all the things that He can do! And He created Olam Haba, which is forever and ever.
The Tanna DRav Eliyahu quotes this pasuk and says,
“Can anyone guarantee consistent food and satiation in this world? Or in the next world? And his words, Hashem says, “I took you to me, everything is Mine. Everything is My handiwork. And I am the One that sustains everything.”
This is our pasuk. This world and the next world are Mine. I am the all powerful therefore, rely on Me .
בִּטְחוּ בַה׳
God is talking- Rely on Me
And if you want to know God’s credentials, He says.
I am Sur Olamim, I am the Creator of worlds.
And what did I make the two worlds with?
Two letters.
That is powerful. That is the ability of God, and those are His credentials, so to say. Therefore, Rely on Me, says God.
Have a wonderful day.