A few weeks ago, parshat Vayaira, we spoke about Avraham followed Hashem's command against his own personal morals, because in the end Hashem who is the ultimate decider of what will be successful. This week will focus on other aspects of hishtadlut.
The Ramban gives a short introduction to this week's parsha where he says that we learn from here that Hashem saves His people (lit. slaves) but they do not rely on Hashem rather they do everything in their power to make their endeavor successful.
The pasuk (32:9) says "And he (Yaakov) said "If Esav comes this group and attacks it the other group will remain to survive." Rashi here tells us that Yaakov "prepared himself in three ways: 1) to give Esav presents (32:22) 2) to daven (32:10) 3) and to fight in war (32:9).
We learn from Yaakov's actions that we should not come to rely on miracles. The gemara in Shabbat (53b) brings a case were a man needed a miracle to save his child and a miracle happened (see there for the exact case) Rav Yosef said "Come and see how great this person is that such a miracle happened to him" Abayai responded "how bad is this person that the order of creation was changed for him." Not only that but in Taanit (24) the gemara paskins that one cannot even derive pleasure from a miracle. There is also a gemara in Bava Kamma (85a) that allows a person to go the doctor. Rashi on the spot says that a person should not assume that Hashem will make in better.
Rabbi Avishai David, my Rosh Yeshiva in his new sefer "Darosh Darash Yosef" (I highly recommend it, not that he needs my haskama) says as follows (pg. 90-91) "However, Jacob used both approaches. He offered up prayers but also rolled up his sleeves. True, a single angel could have defeated Esau's army without effort, just as an angel destroyed the Assyrian army of Sanherib, which consisted of 185,000 men, in one night. But it is not guaranteed. These are the principle of bitachon and hishtadlut. Our challenge is to have emunah, to offer prayer, but alos to be prepared to confront our adversary."
This idea does not just come up in a case of war, rather this is how a person should respond in every situation. A person must prepare for what is coming but at the same time must know that every outcome is from Hashem. We cannot rely on a miracle happening so we cannot just sit back and hope for the best.
What is very interesting is that only several pasukim later (32:11) Yaakov says "I am belittled from all of the good and the truth that You did for your slave (ie me)..." The Vilna Goan says that this is the pasuk that we learn that even though a person should not assume that he deserves good because of his merits, should assume that any good that he does have is because of his merits, and therefore he does not deserve any more. This is what the gemara in Sotah means that a humble person should have an eighth of an eighth of gaivah. Meaning the eight pasuk of the eighth parsha. Meaning that this pasuk should be the mentality of a humble person. A humble person must work as hard as he can for his goal. While he working for it he should know that he does not truly deserve the reward, but if he gets the reward he should remember that it all comes from Hashem and now that he got his reward he deserves no more. This is the mentality of a true anav!
We know Yaakov is known as Esh Ha'Emet (the man of truth), so if he truly believed that this is the right way to think then it must be the proper way to live. May we all be zoche to live on the level of Yaakov, with the ability to do our hishtadlut yet still realize that in the end it is all up to Hashem.
Have a good Shabbat!
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