Bs”d
Parshas Eikev (5766)
By Mordechai Dolinsky
The Medrash (3:5) in our parsha cites an episode of R’ Shimon ben Shetach with an extreme example of monetary consideration and concern regarding a gentile. It opens our eyes to the trust we should have in Hashem–that we can surely rely on Him for His promises for reward.
One way of understanding this is that the only way R’ Shimon ben Shetach could have had this character and behavior is that he had the nefesh Elokis within him.
A new insight might be that Hashem implanted this behavior of extreme consideration in humans to demonstrate to us to observe a concrete perception of this behavior in order to attribute it likewise to Hashem.
Every day let us be mispalel and learn for the zechus of the extremely dangerous matzav Klal Yisroel is going through presently.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.