Parshas Toldos 5787
כי הקרה ה' אלקיך לפני ... (כז-כ)
Mashal A chassid of R' Dovid Moshe of Tchortkov zt”l, discovered a lucrative investment: an aging poritz (landowner) was selling his forest far below market value. Convinced of immense profits, the chassid mentioned the deal to his Rebbe without actually asking for guidance, assuming his success was guaranteed. Unexpectedly, the Rebbe advised him, “Do not buy the forest.” Believing this counsel was optional because he had not formally sought advice, the chassid liquidated his assets and secured heavy loans to purchase the land. Tragically, when workers felled the trees, they found them completely infested with worms, leaving the timber worthless and ruining him financially.
Mortified, he avoided the Rebbe for two years until he finally realized, “I lost my wealth; must I forfeit my Rebbe too?”
Returning in repentance, the chassid attributed the Rebbe’s foresight to ruach hakodesh. Yet R' Dovid Moshe corrected him: “It was not ruach hakodesh when I spoke to you It was your total self-assurance and arrogance expressing no reliance on siyata d’Shmaya. When one treats success as guaranteed without acknowledging Hashem, Heavenly blessing is withheld.”
Nimshal Yitzchok realized something was amiss when Yaakov - who was disguised as his brother, Esav - mentioned that Hashem had granted him swift success in his hunt. Esav habitually relied solely upon his own physical strength and hunting skills, never invoking Hashem's name. Conversely, Yaakov’s automatic instinct to credit Hashem for his quick return immediately betrayed his true identity. Righteous people attribute every achievement to Divine assistance, whereas arrogance and self-reliance disconnect a person from the true Source of all earthly success and blessing.