Rabbenu Bechaye Surprises: The Mistake We All Make on the Path to Livelihood and Health

Human life is full of challenges regarding physical and existential needs – livelihood, health, housing, and other bodily matters. In an uncertain world, there is a delicate balance required between one's efforts to meet his needs and faith in Hashem's decree, from which life and everything in them stem. From this understanding, fundamental questions arise: What is the role of man in his daily efforts? And what is the place of trust in Hashem versus personal endeavors? Rabbenu Bechaye in his book "Duties of the Heart" (Gate of Trust, Chapter 4) delves into the connection between faith in Hashem's providence and personal responsibility to act for one's benefit.

Rabbenu Bechaye clarifies that regarding matters of the human body – his life, death, nutrition, clothing, dwelling, health, diseases, and traits – one must entrust oneself to the governance of Hashem and trust that everything that happens is for his good, both in this world and for his eternal future. One must understand that Hashem decrees what is right for a person, even if it sometimes appears otherwise.

Due to Rabbenu Bechaye's rich and sometimes complex style, the emphasized sections quote directly from his book, while the subsequent paragraphs are meant to clarify and explain his words.

"And it is regarding matters of the human body alone, and they include his life and death and the provision of his food for himself, and his clothing and dwelling and health, and his illness and traits, and the proper ways of trust in Hashem on every matter that he throws his soul into them to the ways of the decree that Hashem decreed for him from them, and his soul should trust in Hashem, and know that nothing will be completed from them for him except what Hashem's will has predetermined as right for his matters in this world and for the future, and better for his later fate".

Regarding the affairs of the human body – his life, death, nutrition, clothing, dwelling, health, diseases, and traits – one must entrust oneself to Hashem's governance and trust that everything happening is for his benefit, both in this world and for his eternal future. One must understand that Hashem decrees what is right for a person, even if it sometimes seems otherwise.

"And the governance of Hashem over all of them is equal, no creature has counsel or governance except under His permission and decree and judgment. Just as the creatures have not his life and death and illness and health, so also they do not have his provision and sustenance and clothing and other matters concerning his body".

Hashem's governance applies to all matters of life. No person, or any other creature, can change or have control over his life, death, health, or sustenance unless it is under Hashem's decree. Therefore, one should not place confidence in natural causes or human efforts alone but see them as merely means through which Hashem's decree materializes. It is clear to a person that his life and death, illness, and health are not controlled by creatures, so also his nutrition, sustenance, clothing, and other bodily matters are not under their control.

"And with clarification of his faith that his affairs are entrusted to the decrees of Hashem, and that Hashem's choice for him is the best choice, he must in turn engage with the means of his benefits and choose the good as it appears to him concerning the matter, and Hashem will do what His decree has predetermined".

Even though faith in Hashem's decree is fundamental, a person is obliged to take the necessary actions to secure his needs. For example, even if a person's life depends on Hashem's decree, he must take care of his basic needs, such as food, drink, housing, and clothing. It is not appropriate to say: "If I am destined to live, my body will survive without any effort on my part".

"Similarly, even though a person's lifespan and days are tied to Hashem's decree, a person must engage in the means of life with food, drink, clothing, and shelter according to his needs, and not leave this to Hashem, saying: if Hashem's decree is for me to live, He will leave my soul in my body without sustenance all the days of my life, and I will not strive in the pursuit and labor of livelihood".

A person must act to provide for his basic needs such as food, drink, clothing, and housing, despite life and death depending on Hashem's decree. It is not correct to rely solely on divine providence and say that Hashem will provide for him without any effort on his part. One must combine personal endeavor with faith in Hashem's decree.

"And it is not fitting for a person to put himself in danger trusting in Hashem's decree, and drink lethal poisons, or endanger himself to fight with lions and wild animals without necessity, or throw himself into the sea or fire, or the like, from which one is not assured, and endanger his soul.And scripture has warned us about this, as it says (Deuteronomy 6) 'You shall not test Hashem your God, etc.'".

Similarly, a person is not permitted to endanger himself out of trust in Hashem's decree, performing actions that endanger his life like drinking poison or fighting wild animals without need. The Torah warns: 'You shall not test Hashem your God,' as this is not faith but reckless endangerment.

"And as we said in life and death, so shall we say as to the need to seek the means of health and nutrition and clothing and dwelling and good traits, and to distance from their opposites with clarified faith that the means do not benefit him in any way, except by Hashem's decree".

When one truly trusts in Hashem, Hashem can heal him from his illnesses through natural means (cause) or even without any visible means (without cause). As it says: 'He sends His word and heals them' (Psalms 107), teaching that the power to heal is in Hashem's hands alone, operating in ways seen or unseen to human eyes.

"Just as the landowner must plow his field and clear it of thorns and sow it and water it if water is available, and trust Hashem to make it fruitful and keep it from harm, and increase its crops and bless it. It is not proper for him to leave the land without work and sowing relying on Hashem's decree to make the land sprout without seed".

Just as the farmer must plow his soil, sow and water it, so should every person act according to his abilities and needs. Nevertheless, he must remember that the harvest, livelihood, and success all depend on Hashem's decree. A person is obligated to combine effort with trust in Hashem, recognizing that human effort alone does not bring blessing.

"And so also artisanship, commerce, and laborers, are commanded to pursue sustenance through them, with trust in Hashem that sustenance is in His hand and under His authority and that He is responsible for it to a person, fulfilling it for him by whatever means He wishes. And one should not think that the means are beneficial or harmful in the least".

Artisans, merchants, and laborers are commanded to pursue their livelihood, but they must remember that sustenance comes from Hashem, not from the means themselves. If sustenance does not come through the channels they have labored in, it may be that Hashem destined it to come through other ways.

"And if sustenance comes to him by one of the methods of the means he engaged with, it is fitting for him not to trust that means and rejoice in it and increase in holding to it and incline his heart to it, for his trust in Hashem will be weakened. But he should not think that it benefits him more than what Hashem had predetermined. Nor should he rejoice in his reliance on and around it, but thank Hashem who provided him after his effort, not putting his toil and labor in vain".

When a person succeeds in providing for themselves through their efforts, they must remember that the means they used are just a tool in Hashem's hands, and not place their trust in it or see it as the source of their livelihood. If one concentrates too much on the means themselves, it weakens their trust in Hashem. They should recognize that sustenance derives from Hashem's decree and thank Him for blessing their efforts, not seeing their labor as the main factor of success.

"And if the livelihood does not come through the ways on which he labored, perhaps his daily sustenance had already been arranged for him, and it is in his possession, or it came through other ways".

If a person does not manage to obtain sustenance through the efforts they exert, they must remember it might have already been allocated to him, and he has not noticed, or maybe Hashem will provide it in other unforeseen ways. They must maintain their faith in Hashem's decree and not despair from their efforts.

"And in whatever form it may be, it is fitting for a person to engage with the means, and not to refrain from pursuing them when they are suitable for his traits and body as I previously mentioned, and trust on Hashem that He will not abandon him nor release him nor overlook him".

Whether a person succeeds in obtaining sustenance through their efforts or not, they should continue to engage in means suitable to their needs without despairing or neglecting the search. At the same time, they must keep their trust in Hashem, believing that He will not abandon, release, or overlook them. The combination of effort and trust is the correct path.

"And so we shall say in the matter of health and disease. For a person needs to trust in Hashem in this, and strive to maintain health through means that naturally tend to this, and to repel illness with that which is practiced to repel it. As Hashem commanded (Exodus 21) 'and he shall heal him'. Without trusting in the health and illness causes as beneficial or harmful, but under Hashem's rule".

In matters of health and illness, a person should trust in Hashem, but also act to maintain their health through natural means and treat their illnesses with accepted medicine. As it is said: 'and he shall heal him'. However, one must not believe the means themselves cause health or illness, but see them as tools operating only under Hashem's authority, from which true influence comes.

"When one trusts in Hashem, He can heal him from his illness through cause and without cause.As it is written (Psalms 107) He sends His word and heals them, etc.".

When a person truly trusts in Hashem, Hashem can heal them from their illnesses through natural means (cause) or even without any visible means (without cause). As it is said: 'He sends His word and heals them' (Psalms 107).

In summary, Rabbenu Bechaye emphasizes that all matters of a person – their life, livelihood, health, and all needs – are completely dependent on Hashem's decree. Although a person is commanded to endeavor and act naturally, they must always remember that the means are only tools in the hands of divine providence. Success, health, and livelihood do not depend on efforts themselves, but on Hashem's will, which determines the outcome for the person's benefit in this world and the next. This deep recognition provides a person with peace and confidence, even in difficult and uncertain situations, because they know that all is guided by infinite divine wisdom and for their true benefit. Living with this faith allows a person to act responsibly, yet always remember that everything is in Hashem's hands.