The Rabbeinu Bechaya in our parashah (26:21) teaches that the Torah approach is to attribute everything to Hashem. When we are successful, we shouldn’t think that it is a result of our own doings but rather it is an underserved gift, due to Hashem’s great kindness. People who are smart, financially comfortable, talented etc. all possess tremendous gifts from Hashem and shouldn’t feel that these qualities are really their own doing. So too, when hardships occur, we need to internalize that they are orchestrated by Hashem and are coming to teach us something, nothing is happenstance. This idea was taught in reference to the tochahah, the rebuke, where Hashem mentions that these punishments result from, walking with Him casually (21:23) thinking everything is happenstance.
In reality, there is no such thing as coincidence, Hashem is in control of every aspect of our lives and He only desires to bestow us with goodness. Punishments resulted as a result of thinking things are mere happenstance, on the contrary focusing on Hashem’s guiding Hand and great love for us, brings down tremendous blessing and saves us from strict justice. As the Imrei Emes (Beshalach 592) teaches “Hashem performs many kindnesses with every Jew; we need to remember these acts constantly. In this merit we will be saved from the attribute of strict justice.” produce comes as a result of our efforts.
The Tzemach Tzedek related how on one Yom Kippur he witnessed the Ba’al Shem Tov appear very disturbed. He was wondering what had happened when suddenly the tzadik’s appearance changed and he looked calm and relaxed. The Ba’al Shem Tov explained that he saw many prosecuting angels arguing against the Jews and he wasn’t sure what he could say in their defense . Meanwhile, an older woman who was recently blessed with a baby stood up and said ‘Hashem you did for me the greatest kindness, how could I ever repay you? All I can do is to give You a beracha, just as You gave me such a tremendous beracha, ‘may You experience only joy from your children, the Jewish people’. The Ba’al Shem Tov explained that these words made such a great impact in the Heavens that all the prosecuting angels’ claims were silenced!
