Pitfalls and Windfalls

“I have heard the complaints of Bnei Yisrael… In the afternoon you’ll eat meat, and in the morning you’ll be satisfied with bread, and you should know that I am Hashem, your G-d.” (Shemos 16:12)

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here are two points we can learn from this pasuk. When we daven to Hashem for parnassah, He answers, even when we don’t ask in a nice way. Further, the end of the pasuk shows that Hashem Himself provides parnassah — not via an angel.

The Gemara (Taanis 2a) supports this idea, explaining that there are three keys in This World that Hashem retains control over and does not entrust to messengers: rain (upon which parnassah depends), childbirth, and techiyas hameisim. The Midrash however, lists parnassah independently, as a fourth key. The word mafteach itself hints to these four keys: mattar, rain; parnassah; techiyah, resurrection; and chayah, life. (Rav Eliezer Chrysler, Midei Shabbos)

One day when the kids are all grown up (that time seems to be getting closer so quickly), I’m finally going to get around to writing a book I’ve been drafting in my head for years, about hashkafic and hashgachic anecdotes relating to parnassah. When it comes down to bank accounts, everyone has a story, and the more you hear, the more you realize how the buck doesn’t stop here, but rather Up There.

There are many things we can learn about parnassah from the story of the mahn. It was nestled between two layers of dew, showing that Hashem provides our parnassah with loving care. Bnei Yisrael were not able to identify the mahn, as Hashem often provides parnassah in mysterious ways. Everyone received the fixed measure of an omer, teaching us that each individual’s parnassah is fixed every Rosh Hashanah. Moshe’s warning not to leave the mahn over until morning shows that one should not worry about the future since Hashem, Who provided today, will also provide tomorrow.