We are going through the different levels of the Bitachon pyramid. We are up to the ninth level.
The first five levels involve the person relying on the nursing, relying on the mother, then the father, then himself and his boss.
Then relying on G-d for the little things, then relying on G-d for the things that are out of our control, and then, Level 8, which is beautiful, is relying on G-d in every area, big or small. We should all aspire to reach Level 8.
The Hovot HaLevavot then goes on to an even higher level, Level Nine, which is out of reach for most of us, but at least we should be aware of it. As we will see, as lofty as this level is, there are some applications for us too.
Level Nine is when the person’s understanding of G-d’s kindness becomes so clear to him, that he wants whatever G-d gives him, and feels that way in his heart, his brain, and his gut. It’s on his face and in his emotions. This is not just a put-on smile. We are talking about someone who understands that what G-d wants, he wants.
וישמח בכל אשר עשה לו האלקים
He’s happy with everything that G-d gives him
ממות וחיים וריש ועשר ובריאות וחלי
Whether life or death, poverty or wealth, sickness or health,
לא יכסף לזולת מה שבחר לו האלהים
He wants what G-d chose for him. He desires what G-d chose for him. He gives himself over to G-d, body and soul.
He says, G-d, You drive the car.
No outcome is more or less accepted by him, because he’s not choosing anything. He quotes someone who was a great Rely-er, who said, “I never got up in the morning and got something I didn’t want, because I always want exactly what G-d gives me.”
This is very important, because when it comes to Emunah and Bitachon, people often make the mistake of thinking that there are two levels: They think there’s a lower level, at which the person thinks that whatever G-d gives them is good. Then they think there’s a higher level, at which they’ll rely on Hashem, pray, and get whatever they want.
They view the first level as almost by default- Gam Zu LeTovah- It’s also for the good.
They think the attitude is “I’ll take it. I won’t fight for what I want.”
But they think that if they really work on their Bitachon, they can ask for things and really get them. The average guy thinks that this is a higher level.
The Hovot HaLevavot is showing us, however, that this outlook is wrong.
Rav Bloch explains that there are really three parts to this; a lower, higher and even higher level.
Level nine is a very high level, and it’s not that simple to grasp.
If your car got dented and you said, “Okay, what can I do? I accept it. It’s a Kaparah,” that’s a lower level. It’s like saying you’ll take it bediavad/ by default.
In another scenario, (level two) the guy who dented your car tells you it was your fault, but that because he’s in the body-shop business, he’ll take care of it, and fix the rest of your dents as well. Now, this seems higher, because you relied on Hashem, and everything turned around in your favor.
But actually, the Higher level is that you didn’t even get upset to begin with. Your car gets dented and you think, “I don’t know what’s good for me.” It’s not thought of as a kaparah, because it was great to begin with. The person at this level doesn’t have an opinion. This is the higher level. Rav Bloch says that as long as things bother you in life, you aren’t up to this level yet.
This person is equally happy regardless, with no opinion. He doesn’t have to work on it, or try to get over it. In his head, everything’s great. If he got a dent, dents are good. He thinks, “Maybe the IRS will drive by my house, see the dented car and be less likely to walk in to check on my taxes.”
It’s all good to him. He doesn’t pray that dent should go away.
Hopefully this is becoming clearer.
We will continue with these levels of caring and not caring within Bitachon.
Have a great day.