617 - Transform Your Bitachon! (Part-54)

Let's continue this amazing journey about Bitachon. A very quick recap of what we've discussed in this section. The Bais HaLevi taught us that the outright obligation that the Torah places on us, that Hashem places on us, to have Bitachon is in so many pesukim, there are too many to count. And somebody who is lacking in Bitachon is committing a grave sin. Again, to remind ourselves, it's not about getting there, it's going to take time. But it's about being on the journey. If we realize it's a super great sin to not have Bitachon, we will do everything in the world to do the best we can to get more and more Bitachon each day.

 

We also learned the powerful words of the Chovas HaLevavos right at the beginning of the Shaar HaBitachon where he writes that he is going to discuss now Bitachon, which he calls the one item that is the most necessary for somebody who wants to become a servant of Hashem. The most necessary item of all the Torah, of all the mitzvos, is Bittachon. We then looked at a passage from Rabbeinu Yonah where he taught us that Bitachon is the ultimate expression of all Emunah and all Yirah. And as we've learned many times, the Torah is replete with passages about Emunah being our ultimate purpose in this world. But the main expression of Emunah is Bitachon. And in a similar vein, there are so many passages in the Torah that teach us that ultimately everything boils down to fear of Hashem, Yiras Shamayim. And again, Rabbeinu Yonah teaches us that the ultimate expression of Yirash Shamayim is having Bitachon in Hashem.

 

We're now moving forward to the next passage that we're going to be looking at. The Vilna Gaon in his commentary to Mishle (22:19) writes, “The main purpose that Hashem gave us the Torah, is so that we should place our Bitachon in Hashem.” We have to really digest these words of the Vilna Gaon. He writes for us, black on white, that the whole point of Hashem giving us the Torah is so that we should come to practice Bitachon in Hashem. Period. This is a summary of this whole topic. Bitachon is the point of the whole Torah. The point of everything. So certainly, it's worth our while to make an effort to understand better what Bitachon is truly all about, and thereafter, b’ezrat Hashem be able to incorporate it more and more each day in our lives.

 

And continues the Gra: “And this is because, again, the foundation of everything is complete Bitachon in Hashem. And this is the foundation of all the mitzvot.” In this short little passage, the Vilna Gaon states loud and clear that the whole motive behind Hashem presenting us with the Torah is so that we will have Bitachon in Him. Just to realize and digest just how important it is to have Bitachon. It's not just another mitzvah. It's the only reason Hashem chose to give us the Torah. And the purpose of all the mitzvos ultimately is to place our Bitachon in Hashem.

 

The reason it's so important to highlight a passage such as this is because unfortunately in many circles, the whole concept of Bitachon and Emunah falls by the wayside. And it's almost seen as an added benefit. If you have extra time on top of your normal Torah learning, then bring in this subject as an extra subject to explore. However, we are learning here from the Vilna Gaon a very profound idea. The whole point of all of Torah, the whole point of all of the mitzvos is ultimately for the sake of Bitachon.

 

So, B’ezrat Hashem, let us all just take to heart that the more efforts we're making in our Bitachon journey is ultimately making more of an effort to fulfill the reason that Hashem chose us as His nation for; that Hashem gave us all the mitzvos with all its details. It's all for the sake of Bitachon, so certainly to do our best to understand this mitzvah as best as we can and do our best to grow in this journey is more than worthwhile. B’ezrat Hashem, let's move forward in this incredible journey together and transform our Bitachon.