“And if you shall say ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year?’…Then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year.” (Vayikra 25:20–21)
In Ohel Yaakov the Dubno Maggid writes: At first glance we don’t know why the Torah wrote: “And if you shall say ‘What shall we eat?’ ” For if it only said: “I will command My blessing ” they wouldn’t worry and wouldn’t say “What shall we eat?” (Quoted by Rav Yaakov Neiman Darchei Mussar)
If the Torah said “And I will command My blessing ” it would be unnecessary to ask “What shall we eat?” Is the brachah dependent on the question being asked? Will we only receive the promise of “Then I will command My blessing” if we ask the question?
Know that the brachos of Hashem Yisbarach will occur in one of several ways: Hashem will send His blessing in the storehouses in the kneading troughs in the ovens or in one’s innards [he will feel full from small portions]. The choicest brachah is the brachah in one’s innards. For in the other brachos the more abundant the crops are the more work there will be for there will be a need to harvest and gather a lot to thresh and grind a lot.
However regarding the brachah in the innards it says “The blessing of Hashem it makes [one] rich ” and it will not bring added difficulty for the brachah will not require toil the labor will be minimal and the brachah will be in his innards. The difference in the form of brachah received is according to the difference in the level of the person’s emunah and bitachon. For the brachah’s influence will be according to the person’s bitachon… (ibid.)
Brachah is a Heavenly form of currency.
I can donate ten dollars instead of five but only Hashem can send a brachah in the five dollars so it’s worth more than ten.
He will sow as usual harvest as usual and fill his storehouses as usual. Yet there will be a brachah in his innards. He will be satisfied quickly. The food will nourish him more. He won’t need overflowing plates. A small measure of grain will suffice for an entire week and everyone will be healthy and strong.
If their bitachon was strong enough that it wouldn’t enter their minds to worry and ask “What will we eat in the seventh year?” then Hashem would give the choicest of brachos. However one who did not have emunah would only be happy upon seeing Hashem’s brachah and would be upset if he didn’t see it. If Hashem waited until the brachah took effect on his innards the person’s worry would increase for he does not trust in Him. (ibid.)
A brachah in the innards is an understanding that if Hashem wants to help it’s not necessarily with extra money or an increase in work which brings side effects of pressure tension and overwhelming tiredness. At times it’s that your child doesn’t develop learning difficulties which necessitate a tutor or that instead of running from store to store you get a beautiful solid-wood children’s bedroom set from your coworker.
It’s true that if you have sufficient funds you can redo your kitchen but then you have to take out the old one bring in workers and dust spend months going from faucet showrooms to tile showrooms and then suddenly discover that the counter doesn’t match the cabinets. Brachah means that the old kitchen remains serviceable and practical stays in style and always feels roomy and cheerful.
Brachah is the ability to be happy with our lot to discover that we so appreciate what we have that we almost don’t need anything else.
At times I get confused and I also want to ask: “What shall we eat?” “How will we manage?” “How will we pay tuition?” “How will we marry off our children?”
And then I suddenly remember and raise my trusting eyes to Hashem until I don’t want to ask anything. To have endless emunah so Hashem can bless my innards. I’ll eat a little and be fully satiated. And the same limited $100 will allow me to buy what others buy with $1 000. To use the Heavenly currency of brachah.