The Medrash tells a fascinating story. Once there was a Yid who wanted to buy an ox to plow his field. On the way to the next village, he met an old man who asked him where he was going. “I’m going to buy an ox,” he answered.
The old man said, “Say im yirtzeh Hashem.” The man proudly answered, “I’m buying an ox even if Hashem doesn’t want, because I already have all the money in my pocket!” As he continued walking, his wallet fell out of his pocket. When he reached the village, he realized it was gone and sadly went back home for more money.
The next time he traveled, he took a different road so he would not meet the old man again. But once again, the old man appeared and asked where he was going. The same conversation happened again. Afterwards, the old man, who was really Eliyahu Hanavi, made him fall asleep and took his purse. When the man reached the village and saw that his wallet was missing again, he went home once more to get more money.
The third time he met Eliyahu Hanavi and was asked where he was going, he answered humbly, “I am, im yirtzeh Hashem, going to buy an ox.” Eliyahu Hanavi was very happy to hear this. He bentched the Yid and secretly returned all the missing money.
When the Yid arrived in the village, he saw someone selling two parah adumos. “How much do they cost?” he asked. “Two hundred gold coins,” answered the goy. The Yid said, “I only have one hundred.” He then put his hand into his pocket and suddenly found three hundred gold coins — all the money he had lost!
He bought the parah adumos and an ox, and later sold the parah adumos for a huge profit. He clearly saw the special siyata dishmaya he received after learning to always say “im yirtzeh Hashem.”
The Shelah says we learn this from this week’s parsha: al pi Hashem yachanu v’al pi Hashem yisa’u — wherever we go, we should always keep Hashem on our lips!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 84.
