Where were we about three and a half months ago? We all had lots of plans. Celebrate Passover with our parents or in a hotel abroad. Ask for a raise from our boss. Move to a more spacious apartment. Expand our business. Go on vacation. Sign a big deal.
Every man and his plans.
And suddenly everything went wrong. We celebrated Passover with the nuclear family. Those who were about to ask for a raise found themselves on unpaid leave. The thought of changing apartments was shelved. There's no point in expanding the business, I hope it survives. The big deal was canceled. And the dream vacation went back into deep freeze.
Reality is not in our control.
A Yiddish proverb states: Man plans and God laughs (originally it rhymes). We make plans. We are sure that we will do this and that and it will be this and that. We think that reality is under our control, and that we will achieve everything we want, here and now.
And suddenly the Corona crisis came and threw our plans into disarray.
It's not just a global pandemic that can disrupt our plans. You're going to a meeting.
""I'll be at your place at two," you told your colleague. You started the car. You even left five minutes earlier than the time Waze gave, in case of traffic jams. Everything seemed to be going according to plan.
Is that true?
A simple flat tire is enough to disrupt the entire schedule, not to mention more serious incidents that could significantly slow down traffic. Or you might just discover halfway through that you forgot to bring the presentation without which the meeting couldn't take place. But you said with absolute confidence that you'd be there at two.
That is why Jews usually say about everything, "If God wills," "With God's help." We do our part, plan, initiate, try, and strive, but ultimately everything depends on the will of the Creator. And so it is said in the book of Proverbs, and we say the verse every day: "Many are the thoughts in a man's heart, but it is the counsel of the Lord that will prevail.".
It is difficult for a person to live in a reality of uncertainty. We want to be able to make plans, build scenarios, schedule events, do business, make investments.
See how we struggle to do all of this in the tumultuous days of the global pandemic. It's very difficult to live like this for long. But even when the ground seems to be stable, it's important to remember that it can slip away from under us at any moment.
Expectation of surprise
This recognition brings modesty and humility into our hearts. We do not run the world, or even ourselves. We can and should try to act, but ultimately success is in the hands of the Creator. The use of the phrase 'with the help of God' is not lip service, but a deep recognition that everything is in His hands, and He is the One who gives the blessing and success to the work of our hands.
It's not just the coronavirus that disrupted all the plans. Look at the political system. Who would have dreamed about a year and a half ago, when it was decided to go to the polls, that we would end up with three election campaigns and the outcome that is emerging these days – which of course could also change at the dizzying pace of events.
And perhaps while we are immersed in the Corona virus and political scenarios, God is preparing for us the real surprise – the true and complete redemption through our righteous Messiah.
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