Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi David Cohen
That it was He who gives you the strength to make wealth. (8:18)
Targum Onkelos adds his own interpretation to the above translation. He writes: Hu d’yahiv lecha eitzah l’mikni nechassin, “He (Hashem) gave you the idea to purchase property.” Horav Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler, zl, explains that, while one may attribute his financial success to Hashem’s assistance, he still believes it was his strategy, his personality, his business acumen. He had Divine assistance, but it was his idea to initiate the project. Onkeles teaches us that this is categorically untrue. The very eitzah, idea, was not self-initiated. It, too, was placed into his head by Hashem.
How often do we hear someone say, “I had an idea.” To him we say, “Who” placed that idea in your mind? Hashem. Every ounce of your success – from idea to blueprint, to completion – is all from Hashem.
Shabbat Shalom.