"If you will say, what will we eat in the
seventh year?" Leviticus 25:20
Yahveh commanded Israel to keep the laws of shemitah (sabbatical
year) and to refrain from planting or harvesting during the seventh year. He also promised that if Israel kept
His laws, they would be blessed with an abundance of crops during the sixth year, which would provide for them until the next
planting.
So, why would they even ask "what will we eat on the seventh year" if
they already saw the blessing during the sixth year?
Their question reflected their anxiety and worry. It is possible for
many of us to have abundance and lack nothing, and still we will worry about the future to the extent that we don't even enjoy
what we really have. It is good to prepare for the future but we should differentiate between logical concern and irrational
worry and anxiety. The way to overcome these kinds of feelings is through faith and trust in Yahveh.
There are many commandments that teach us this very important lesson
of faith, such as closing our businesses for Shabbat and Holidays. One who tries to strengthen his faith in Yahveh will not
only have peace of mind about the future but will enjoy the present as well.
