Don't Give Up Right Before Your Blessing Arrives Parashat Bamidbar

0:03Good evening, dear friends, and welcome to our shiur tonight. We are going to delve into some fascinating aspects of Sefer Bamidbar, particularly focusing on the various personalities who led Am Yisrael through the desert. As we examine the list of tribal leaders, the Nesi'im, a striking pattern emerges. Firstly, we observe that the names of the leaders of the Shevatim, many of them are completely unfamiliar to us unless one delves deeply into the Gemara. For instance, if we look at the beginning, Shevet Shimon has Shlumiel ben Tzurishaddai. And then, moving on, we have Shevet Yehudah. Indeed, it is in Shevet Yehudah that we encounter a figure whose name resonates deeply within our tradition. My dear friends, we are learning about the incredible emunah displayed by Am Yisrael at the Yam Suf, a moment when their faith was tested to its absolute limits. Imagine the scene: The Children of Israel are cornered, the sea before them, seemingly impassable, and dangers lurking on every side. It is at this critical juncture that the Torah highlights a particular individual, from whom we learn a profound lesson in courage and trust in Hashem. In Shevet Yehudah, the tribe of Yehudah had Nachshon ben Aminadav. Most people know the name Nachshon ben Aminadav. He was the one who was a Ba'al Emunah, the one who demonstrated the most emunah when Am Yisrael arrived at the Yam Suf. The ocean was in front of them. Snakes and scorpions were on their right and left sides. Our Sages teach that the scorpions and snakes were gigantic. They were trapped, facing what seemed like certain destruction, with no apparent way out. And, to compound their terror, the entire Egyptian army was bearing down upon them from behind, bent on their demise. It was in this moment of profound fear and uncertainty, when Moshe Rabbeinu himself cried out to Hashem, that one man's unwavering faith answered the Divine call to 'move on,' to demonstrate belief through action, and thus paved the way for the ultimate miracle.

0:54Indeed, Am Yisrael was trapped, facing what seemed like certain destruction, with no apparent way out. The ocean was in front of them, and our Sages teach that gigantic snakes and scorpions lurked on their right and left sides. It was an utterly terrifying predicament. and if that's not bad enough, right behind them was the entire Egyptian army chasing them to kill them. No one among them knew how to swim. They hadn't had any swimming lessons in Egypt while being slaves for centuries. So, naturally, everyone was afraid. Everyone was crying. Even Moshe Rabbeinu himself cried out to Hashem. And Hashem asks, 'Why are you crying out to Me? Why are you screaming to Me? Move on!' Meaning, take action to merit salvation. Demonstrate your emunah. It was at this critical juncture, when the Divine call was given to 'move on,' that one man's unwavering faith answered that call: Nachshon ben Aminadav from Shevet Yehudah stepped forward, ready to demonstrate this profound emunah through action, paving the way for the ultimate miracle. We stand before one of the most profound moments in our history, Kriat Yam Suf, the Splitting of the Red Sea. Am Yisrael was at the brink, cornered by Mitzrayim behind them and the vast ocean ahead. It was a moment that demanded extraordinary faith, true emunah and bitachon in Hashem. And the call went out for someone to take the first step, to demonstrate that unwavering trust. The minute that Nachshon ben Aminadav understands this to be the mission, he goes into the waters and walks into them until they literally block his ability to breathe. They block his mouth, they block his nose, and he starts to drown. And at that moment, Hashem opens up the ocean. And what a miraculous opening it was! The waters did not merely recede; Hashem, in His infinite wisdom, fashioned specific paths through the sea. As the Rambam elucidates, this was not a straightforward passage, but rather the waters formed twelve distinct tunnels, one for each of the shevatim, shaped in a semi-circular manner, demonstrating a truly individualized miracle for every tribe.

1:42To further emphasize this incredible Hashgacha Pratit and Chesed, the waters did not just part in one straight path, but were specifically fashioned into twelve separate passages, one for each shevet. And as the Rambam explains, it wasn't a straight tunnel, like you might envision in a movie, going directly from one side to the other. Rather, each passage was shaped like a perfect semicircle. This unique design meant that instead of a straight path across, they would enter at one point and, traversing the arc, return to the very same beach from which they started. This clever stratagem was actually one of the ways that it was possible to fool the Egyptians into continuing their pursuit, because they constantly saw the back of the camp disappear around the corner. Needless to say, the Indeed, my dear talmidim, Chazal describe how Hashem, in His infinite wisdom and hashgacha pratis, often guided Bnei Yisrael in unexpected ways to confuse their pursuers, where they would march to one end and then return to the exact same beach from which they had departed, and this was actually one of the ways it was possible to fool the Egyptians into continuing their pursuit, because the Egyptians constantly saw the back of the camp disappear around the corner. Needless to say, the Egyptians were completely disoriented by these tactical movements, believing Bnei Yisrael were lost or trapped, thus setting the stage for the miraculous Krias Yam Suf. Brothers, we often speak of emunah and bitachon, of the profound trust we must place in the Ribbono Shel Olam. But what does it truly mean to trust Hashem to an unimaginable degree? We find the quintessential example of this in the Torah, at Yam Suf, with none other than Nachshon ben Aminadav, whose step of trusting Hashem to such a high magnitude not only warranted him becoming the leader of the tribe of Yehudah and the great great great great great great grandfather of David HaMelech, from whom Mashiach will ultimately come, His unwavering faith brought about an immense Kiddush Hashem, paving the way for such greatness. However, sometimes we see individuals who also wish to make a grand gesture, a powerful statement of their emunah and dedication to Hashem, yet their efforts, through no fault of their own, do not always manifest in the way they envisioned, perhaps even appearing disappointing in the eyes of others.

2:42My dear friends, we often speak about the profound desire within Klal Yisrael to serve Hashem with all our might. We discussed previously how sometimes even the most heartfelt mitzvot, like giving tzedakah for a noble cause, can be followed by unexpected challenges or a feeling of disappointment when the anticipated blessings don't materialize as we expected. This yearning to make a grand gesture, to truly demonstrate our emunah, is a powerful one. Still, there are many people out there who could perhaps make a big move to show their emunah in Hashem. But sometimes that move is disappointing. For instance, they go out and they start teaching Torah, but nobody shows up, or perhaps only a couple of people show up, and one of them is related to them and the other one works for them. This feeling of disappointment, when our grand intentions don't yield the visible fruits we expect, can be deeply discouraging. It's crucial, however, to remember that the true measure of our mitzvot is not in their public reception or immediate worldly benefit, but in the sincerity of our heart and the fulfillment of Hashem's will. We learn from Pirkei Avot, "It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it." Our job is to do, and to trust that Hashem knows best how and when to bestow His blessings, even if they are not immediately apparent to us in this world. It's a common struggle, my dear friends, when a person commits to a mitzvah with great enthusiasm, only to be met with unexpected challenges. How often do we see a person go out there and donate a substantial amount of money, perhaps because he figures, "You know, it's good to donate for the sake of Torah, to publicize Torah, and surely HaKadosh Baruch Hu will bless me back for it." But then, tragically, he's only to find out that shortly after he made that generous donation, he lost some money, or perhaps he lost his job, and suddenly he feels a great wave of disappointment, questioning if his efforts were truly valued by Shamayim. This is precisely where our emunah is tested, my dear friends, for HaKadosh Baruch Hu's ways are not our ways, and sometimes the greatest blessings are hidden in what appears to be initial setback. We must remember that true reward often comes in ways we least expect, strengthening our faith for the long journey.

3:27Rebbetzin and talmidim, we delve today into a vital aspect of avodat HaShem and our personal growth. We often find ourselves in moments of great inspiration, ready to commit wholeheartedly to a path we believe is right. Many times, a person undertakes mitzvot or spiritual endeavors, feeling a profound inner calling. He aspires to be like Nachshon ben Aminadav, to take that courageous leap into the water, to demonstrate his emunah to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. But often, he encounters disappointment when the initial outcome is not as anticipated. And tragically, most people give up a little too soon. They falter precisely when perseverance is most needed. It reminds me of a common visual, well-known to us all: those various cartoons or digital images where we see two individuals digging underground. My dear talmidim, my dear friends, we live in a world where HaKadosh Baruch Hu challenges us constantly, testing our emunah and bitachon. How many times do we find ourselves on the cusp of a breakthrough, only to be tempted, chas v'shalom, to give up? But our Chazal teach us the immense power of persistence, of continuing to strive even when the outcome is unclear. This very concept is illustrated beautifully in a parable that is well known to us: all these different cartoons or digital images where people show these pictures, or where there are two people digging under the ground. One of them is digging on the right, the other one is digging on the left. Both are searching for diamonds and gold. Both have a wall in front of them, under them, around them. One guy gives up. And what unfolds next in this familiar story, my dear ones? What does the other person do once his partner abandons the task?

4:25Bitachon is the confidence that not only does He oversee everything, but that His divine plan is always for our ultimate good, even when we cannot perceive it. It is about holding steadfast, not giving up, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, trusting implicitly that HaKadosh Baruch Hu is orchestrating every detail. Consider the classic parable of the two treasure hunters. One toils day and night, finding nothing. Utterly exhausted and despairing, he walks away. The second man, seeing the first depart, thinks to himself, 'Ah, okay, since he's not here anymore, I'll go to his side, because I haven't had any success in mine.' And with the very first crack to the wall – boom! – a whole slew of money, gold, and diamonds erupts, everything that the first guy, if he would have waited one more minute, would have received himself. Everyone knows this story, but in real life, not merely in allegories or digital images, very few people truly apply it. This parable, as simple as it sounds, perfectly illustrates the profound challenge of bitachon and perseverance. How often do we give up just before the breakthrough, just before our efforts would have borne fruit, simply because we lack that profound trust that HaKadosh Baruch Hu is truly running the show? May Hashem grant us all the strength to hold onto our bitachon, even in the darkest and most trying moments, knowing that His salvation can come in the blink of an eye. We've discussed the profound challenge of holding onto our trust in HaKadosh Baruch Hu, as demonstrated by the parable of the treasure hunters. That unwavering conviction, that steadfast reliance on Divine Providence, even when we don't understand His ways, is a cornerstone of our spiritual life. Now, let's delineate these concepts precisely. This is called bitachon. Emunah is an understanding and clarification that Hashem runs the world. He doesn't need you; you need Him. But more importantly, you understand that He oversees all of creation, including you. Bitachon is the confidence that not only does He oversee everything, but He specifically cares and is involved in your particular circumstance, your life, your thoughts, your difficulties, the words that come out of your mouth, and the words that are in your mind. Everything that happened to you, everything that's happening to you, and everything that will happen to you. And that everything that He does...

5:17My dear talmidim, we often speak of HaKadosh Baruch Hu's benevolent care for the entire world, His vast hashgacha klalit. But we must delve deeper and truly internalize that He specifically cares and is involved in your particular circumstance: your life, your thoughts, your difficulties, the words that come out of your mouth, and even the words that are in your mind. Every single thing that happened to you, every single thing that is happening to you, and every single thing that will happen to you – it is all under His direct supervision. And know this: everything that He does is for your benefit. Meaning that while He has the whole world to manage, to oversee, to literally keep alive, everything that He puts in front of you is always going to be the best possible circumstance out of all of the circumstances that are available to you. Which means that if you truly have bitachon, you understand this profound truth. This understanding empowers us to face every challenge with equanimity and faith. And know this, my dear talmidim: everything that He does for you, every single thing, is for your benefit. Meaning that while He has the whole world to manage, to oversee, to literally keep alive, everything that He puts in front of you is always going to be the best possible circumstance out of all of the circumstances that are available to you. Which means that if you truly have bitachon, then you understand this profound truth. This is why even the suffering that's in your life, you will view favorably.

6:06We begin by strengthening our emunah and bitachon, brothers, remembering always that everything that comes from Above is for our ultimate good. Even when we don't understand it, even when it seems impossible. And this is exactly the middah of a ben Torah, a child of Hashem: The suffering that's in your life, you will view favorably. Hence, the reason why the Gemara in Maseches Brachos says that a person needs to bless Hashem for things that he believes are good and for things that he believes are bad – like suffering, whether it be health, monetary loss, and so on. Why? Because you know that if Hashem gave it to you, that was the best possible option. It's hard to swallow, chaverim. When a person faces challenges that seem unbearable, when he feels like he's falling apart, or when he loses tremendous wealth due to someone's incompetence, it's natural to ask: "How could this possibly be good?" But we must internalize this fundamental truth, that everything is min HaShamayim and l'tova. Often, when we face overwhelming challenges and suffering, we grapple with profound questions about Divine Providence. From our human, limited perspective, it can be incredibly difficult to understand Hashem's ways. We might look at our circumstances and think: "How could it be the best possible option for me to bleed through different orifices of my body? How could it be the best possible option for me to hire a lawyer to help me protect my property while I was going through financial difficulties, only to find out that the lawyer was utterly negligent and ended up costing me a five-million-dollar apartment?" Such questions naturally arise when we encounter such pain and loss. Yet, it is precisely in these moments of seemingly inexplicable difficulty that our bitachon, our unwavering trust in Hashem, is truly tested. We are called upon to believe, with a complete heart, that even when things appear to be the worst possible scenario, Hashem is guiding us towards ultimate good, a good that may currently be beyond our comprehension.

6:55Brothers, sometimes we look at the world around us, and we see situations that just don't make sense. We see good people, righteous people, ba'alei chessed, who are struggling. We see situations where everything seems to go wrong, and it challenges our very emunah. It makes us ask, "Why, Ribono shel Olam?" that's gone, that was literally taken over for peanuts because the lawyer doesn't know what he's doing. How could that be good? How could it be good that a person does so much good, ends up having so much bad? This is what bitachon is. And this, my dear friends, is precisely where bitachon comes in. It's easy to have faith when things are good, but true bitachon – as Rav Yaron Ben Dror teaches – is that 100%, unwavering confidence that whatever Hakadosh Baruch Hu gives you, whatever situation you find yourself in, is the absolute best possible thing for you, out of all the options. Even when our limited human understanding cannot grasp it, we must have that bitachon that it is from Hashem and it is for our ultimate good. My dear talmidim, we gather tonight to delve into one of the foundational principles of our avodas Hashem, a concept that truly defines our relationship with the Master of the Universe: Bitachon. What exactly is this deep trust, this unshakeable faith that we are called upon to cultivate? Let us ponder its essence, its ultimate manifestation, and the journey we undertake to reach it. As the great gaon and tzaddik, HaRav Yaron shlit'a, so profoundly explains: "Bitachon is 100%, or at least our aspiration should be to have 100%. We would be fortunate enough to even achieve 50%. But, we must strive to have full confidence that whatever HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave us is the best possible thing available to us, out of all the options." Indeed, my friends, this is the profound challenge and the ultimate reward of true bitachon: to accept HaKadosh Baruch Hu's decree with complete equanimity, knowing that everything He does is for our absolute best, even when we cannot perceive it with our limited human understanding. May Hashem grant us the strength and clarity to internalize this timeless teaching and live lives permeated with unyielding trust in His divine plan. Amen, ken yehi ratzon.

7:42My dear talmidim, we are gathered here, b'siyata d'Shmaya, to delve into the profound depths of our Holy Torah. The Chazal teach us that everything we do must be with kavanah, with clear intention, connecting to the fundamental truths of our existence. And so, we must always strive for the true Yichud HaShem, the unification of His holy Name in all worlds. Especially as we prepare for the sacred days of Shavuos, when the Torah was given to us, we reflect on how the Ribbono shel Olam, Yifneh His Divine attention to us, and Yashkiv upon us His blessings, so that we may Yatzliach in all our endeavors. Indeed, we pray that Mi'leiv L'ma'alah, from the depths of our hearts and ascending upwards, our prayers and learning should rise before Him. And that Yiten Lanu HaKadosh Baruch Hu a tremendous Shefa Gadol, an abundance so great, truly a Shefa Nishmas Ha'Adam, an abundance that nourishes the very soul of man. For through this, we merit that Yikdash HaTov, that all goodness will be sanctified and revealed in the world. And may we always merit to proclaim Yichud Shamayim, the unity of Heaven itself, reflecting the profound Emes, Gedulas HaShem, the truth of the Greatness of God's Name, Amen v'Amen. Let us continue to plumb these sacred depths, b'ezras Hashem.