Earning a Living — Earning a Life

Parshat VaYechi 5767 — December 31th, 2006

Essay #16

Bitachon - Trusting in God to deliver one’s livelihood

Beginning this week, God willing, we will discuss several central ideas about going out to work to earn a living. What does it mean that “God decrees on Rosh HaShanah what the person will earn during the year” (Beitzah 16a)? Why go to work if you’re going to get your income anyway? What does it mean to have “bitachon,” – i.e., to trust in God to supply your livelihood, if you’re already working and earning your livelihood?

The following essay is based upon Likutey Moharan I, #76. The main themes of the lesson are focused sight and trusting in God. This lesson, with full annotation, will be available in the next volume of the ongoing translation of the Likutey Moharan (Volume 9), which is due to be published within the next month, God willing. We present here some of the salient points of the lesson; the {bracketed} paragraphs are additions from Reb Noson, who adds commentary to these ideas. Rebbe Nachman taught:

Behold, sight is comprised of Direct Light and Reflected Light. Direct Light is the power of vision spreading outward. Reflected Light is when it arrives [back] so that the intended object might be observed.

{The essence of visual perception is the power of vision moving and spreading outward and impacting with the sighted object. On account of this impact, the power of vision then rebounds back to the eyes and the sighted object is pictured in the eyes. The eyes thus see the observed object. Thus we see that visual perception is comprised of Direct Light and Reflected Light. The power of vision spreading outward from one’s eyes to the sighted object is the aspect of Direct Light. The power of vision impacting with the observed object—through which the object is reflected and pictured in one’s eyes, this being the essence of sight—is the aspect of Reflected Light, since the vision rebounds and returns to his eyes, as explained.}

The Holy One, blessed be He, cannot be fathomed in any way. Nevertheless, so that we might have some understanding, it is similarly said of Him: “For though God is exalted, He sees the lowly; and the High One makes Himself known from afar” (Psalms 138:6). “He sees” corresponds to Direct Light; “makes Himself known from afar” corresponds to Reflected Light.

{The main way one knows what one sees is through Reflected Light, which is the power of vision returning to the eyes. Occasionally, a person will see something with his own eyes and even so not know what he saw, such as when something is passed by his eyes at great speed. This is because there was insufficient time for the power of vision to return to his eyes and for his brain to picture the thing so that he might know it. Thus we see that the knowledge a person acquires through sight is the aspect of Reflected Light.}

In the first paragraphs, Rebbe Nachman focused upon the power of sight. In these next few paragraphs, the Rebbe explains the value of that “sight.”

Know, too, that seeing creates a vessel—namely, fixed parameters and time. Before a person sees an object, it lacks fixed parameters and time. But by looking at it, the object acquires them both. This is as our Sages, of blessed memory, taught: “He made you suffer and let you go hungry, and He fed you the manna” (Deuteronomy 8:3)—One who sees what he eats cannot be equated to someone who doesn’t see what he eats. From here we learn that the blind are never satiated (Yoma 74b). This is because someone who cannot see has no definition. Thus the Talmudic passage concludes: What verse proves this?—”Better is the sight of the eyes than the roving of the soul” (Ecclesiastes 6:9). With the faculty of vision he sets his soul in motion, and this [creates] the parameters.

This is the benefit of trust. Trust is the aspect of sight: a person looks and watches with his eyes for God alone. And he trusts in Him, as in “The eyes of all look to You with hope.” Looking with trust also creates a vessel—namely, fixed parameters and time. Bounty is constantly descending from on high, but it is without fixed time. On occasion the thing one needs now will arrive in only two or three years. However, by looking with trust, the person gives the bounty fixed parameters and time, so that this bounty comes at the very time he needs it.

This is the explanation of the verses: “The eyes of all look to You with hope” and “You give them their sustenance in its time.” That is: When one directs his eyes to God—i.e., the aspect of trust—as a result, “You give them their sustenance in its time.” Specifically “in its time”—i.e., at the very time one needs it. This is because trust, which corresponds to sight, creates a vessel: fixed parameters and time, as explained above.

Briefly, then, Rebbe Nachman is teaching that bounty is constantly descending upon us. Why we don’t receive it is because we are lacking the vessels within which to receive it. But, when a person focuses his sight upon God, he creates the vessels and is able to get his bounty and blessing, at the time he needs it, rather than, as in the adage, “too little, too late!”

Next week, we will elaborate upon this teaching, based upon Reb Noson’s essay in Likutey Halakhot, Masa u’Matan 4.

Have a great week, focus your sights and make lots of vessels in order to be able to receive God’s munificent bounty!