Hashem Has Many Messengers
A wealthy man had suffered a tremendous loss due to the precarious world financial situation. Apart from the fortunes he lost, he had the added burden that he had recently bought a house. He simply could not meet his mortgage payments any longer.
“Obviously, I have no means of paying the mortgage I took on the house before the financial crises,” he explained. “I have astronomical debts, aside from the massive mortgage to the tune of four hundred thousand euro. After threats from the bank, my case went to court. There it was decided that I must sell my home in a public auction, in order to pay up my staggering debts.”
The man told me his tale of woe, crying bitterly over his house, which would be confiscated if he did not manage to collect the overwhelming amount within a few short days.
My heart constricted with sorrow at his words. Man’s home is his castle, and this man’s castle was about to be rampaged by marauders, as he stood watching helplessly.
I tried to lift his spirits, quoting the words of Chazal (Berachot 10a), “Even if a sharp sword is at a person’s neck, he should not despair of Heavenly mercy.” I told him not to allow himself to fall into the clutches of despair. “Pray to Hashem and do not cease to supplicate Him from the depths of your heart. I, too, will pray on your behalf, so that my fathers’ merits protect you and effect a salvation speedily.”
I fortified him with faith in Hashem. As he left, I discerned a lighter feeling in his heart.
One day before the public auction, the man called me again, wailing bitterly over his plight. He saw no hope for his situation. I replied, “The day is yet long. Hashem has many messengers. Just have faith in Him, for He can do anything!”
I met the man a few days after the auction. In contrast to his former state of despair, the man’s face was wreathed in smiles. I understood immediately that he had merited a miraculous deliverance. I asked him to tell me the details.
“The day of the public auction,” he began, “I went to the venue where it was scheduled to take place and poured forth a heartfelt prayer. I said, ‘Ribbono shel Olam, may it be your will that my house has no buyers.’ But when I stepped into the hall, I was dismayed to find it packed. I understood that my house had many potential buyers, after all. I was filled with dread and distress. With head downcast and a broken heart, I found a seat at the side, next to my lawyer, who has escorted me in my troubles this past year. I waited to see how my house would be auctioned, like any item on the market.
“Suddenly, my lawyer turned to me, and said, ‘You should know that I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I was thinking about your case all through the night, and how I could help you. In the end, I decided to lend you the large amount of money that you need. I will hand over to you the four hundred thousand euro, even though you already owe me twenty-five thousand euro for my work on your behalf.’
“My lawyer finished speaking and removed from his pocket a check for the full amount that I needed and handed it to me.
“To say I was shocked would be an understatement. For many long moments, I could not find my tongue. I was overcome with emotion at this show of kindness. But my lawyer did not leave me much time to remain this way. He hurried me to the man in charge of the auction. I retained possession of my house.”
The powerful lesson in this story is that one who places his trust in Hashem with a complete heart and truly believes in the merit of the tzaddikim, nullifying himself before them, merits witnessing open miracles. This man was undoubtedly slated to lose his home in the public auction. But his faith reversed the decree, and he merited miraculous Divine help to maintain possession of his home.
