Hashem Controls Our Livelihood

Living Emunah By Rabbi David Ashear

Content provided by Torah Learning Resources. and Rabbi David Ashear. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Torah Learning Resources. and Rabbi David Ashear or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

15d ago

MP3•Episode home

For a 10% discount on Rabbi David Ashear's new book LIVING EMUNAH VOL 8 click the link below https://www.artscroll.com/Books/9781422644645.html A man in Israel who works in the sound system industry bought a large van to transport his heavy equipment. Before using it for business, he made a personal commitment to first use it for a mitzvah—to do a chesed for someone else. He posted an ad offering his services but didn't receive any responses. Eager to begin using his new van for parnasah but determined to keep his word, he sat in the parked van one day and prayed sincerely that Hashem send him a mitzvah opportunity. Just minutes later, an avreich walked out of his kollel, saw the van, and knocked on the window. He asked the man if he could help him move apartments for just 300 shekels. The man agreed on the condition that others help carry the furniture. He ended up spending hours over the next few days helping the avreich move. When the job was done, he refused to accept any payment. The avrech was overwhelmed with gratitude. He told the man that he had been praying for days to find someone who could help him move at an affordable cost. The man was thrilled to be the one Hashem had chosen to answer that tefillah. He then asked the avreich if he could speak to the kollel to give them some chizuk. He shared how just a few years earlier he was drowning in debt with no way out. Then he read a book about the segulah of saying Birkat Hamazon slowly, with kavanah, and with joy. He also internalized a critical truth: his parnasah did not come from his work, but only from Hashem. He realized a person could work day and night and make nothing—or work just a little and earn a fortune. Everything is determined solely by Hashem. After that shift in perspective and practice, his debts disappeared and his business began to thrive. Another story was shared by a man named Yehuda, who still learns full-time in kollel. Ten years ago, he was eating at someone's home who honored Shabbat in a special way. When it came time for Birkat Hamazon , the host brought out a beautifully handwritten Birkat Hamazon written on klaf , like a mezuzah. The host explained he only used it on Shabbat, to give honor to the day. Yehuda was inspired and hoped that one day he, too, would own such a special item. Years passed. Yehuda recently mentioned to a friend that he was looking for a Birkat Hamazon on klaf and asked if he knew any sofer who might have one. The friend said it was rare and would likely be expensive. Two days later, that same friend told him he had just met a sofer who happened to have one available. Yehuda went to see it and was amazed—it was exactly what he had imagined, with inserts for all the holidays and beautifully handwritten. The sofer said the price was $1,500 but was willing to sell it for $1,000. Yehuda asked if he could pay $100 a month over 10 months, but the sofer said he couldn't do that. Yehuda turned to Hashem and said, "Hashem, this Birkat Hamazon is Yours. I know You can give it to me even if I can't afford it. Just because I can't buy it doesn't mean You can't give it." He prayed with real emunah that Hashem would find a way. A few days later, a friend told Yehuda he had just bought a Birkat Hamazon on klaf as a gift for someone, but that person couldn't use it because it didn't have vowels. Yehuda asked to see it, and to his astonishment, it was the exact same Birkat Hamazon he had hoped to buy. The friend had no use for it and gave it to Yehuda as a gift—for free. Hashem can give us everything we need. The more we believe in His absolute control over our parnasah, the more blessing it brings into our lives.

338 episodes

#Jewish #Religion #Torah Learning Resources #Rabbi David Ashear