We may plan the route, but Hashem often “reroutes” us

It’s happened to many of us: We’re driving with a certain destination in mind, when we suddenly we find ourselves in a completely different place than we’d envisioned.

This scenario doesn’t only take place in the car; in life we find often ourselves in startling situations, with no idea of how we ended up doing certain things, or why we met certain people. It’s at these moments that we need to remind ourselves of the deeper meaning of the brachah we say each morning, hameichin metzadei gaver, Hashem prepares the footsteps of man.

To Move with Ease

On a technical level, Rabbi Alexander Mandelbaum points out in Aromimcha Elokai Hamelech, this brachah is expressing gratitude for all forms of transportation we’ve been blessed with. We’re thanking Hashem that we’re not cooped up in our homes all day, that we have the ability to walk, that we can benefit from many forms of technology that enable us to be mobile.

Rabbi Mandelbaum even extends the meaning of this brachah to all forms of technology that allow us to communicate with each other. On this level, “footsteps” is a catchphrase for the various things we take for granted that allow us to “move with ease” and reach out to others. When saying this brachah, we should take a moment to appreciate the gifts that allow us to communicate with the world at large, like cell phones and e-mail.

Tallelei Oros quotes the pasuk in Iyov 14:16: “For now, you count my steps,” which notes that every one of our footsteps is counted. Indeed, it has been decreed for each of us how many footsteps we will take in our lifetime, and how many in a given day. Hashem has prepared for each of us not only our destination, but the “means” to reach that destination. Do we ever stop to think how many footsteps we take on any given day? How many footsteps do we use just straightening up the house or preparing a meal, finding all the ingredients and accoutrements? This brachah reminds us not to take these steps for granted — and how precise Divine Providence is.

Led to His Destination

On a deeper level, this brachah is a directive for life’s travels. Laboker Rinah quotes Rav Yehudah bar Yakar, who comments that often people rely on their own prowess when going on a journey. People plan, map out their trip, and are confident that they’ll reach their destination. But we need to constantly remember that it’s Hashem Who is ultimately leading us, and we’ll land in the exact location He desires.

A city was once under lockdown, with all movement prohibited. Rav Yehonasan Eybeschutz went out to shul to daven Shacharis. He was stopped by a police officer, who asked where he was going, and he answered that he didn’t know. He was taken to the police station and asked to explain himself. He told them, “We never know where we’re going! My proof? When I left my house this morning, I thought that I was going to shul, but I landed in the police station.”

To a certain degree, we never really know where we’re headed, we only know where we think we’re going. Today we have GPS and Waze, which have made us overconfident in planning and executing our travel itineraries. And indeed, Laboker Rinah points out that the word used in the brachah is gever, from the root gevurah, strength; a person relies on his intelligence and strength, feeling that he’s in control of every situation. We need to keep in mind that Hashem will often “reroute” us, placing us in the exact place at the exact time to experience the circumstances tailor-made for us.

When we’re delayed, when traffic jams seem endless, this brachah needs to be our mantra: We’re exactly where we need to be, and Hashem is orchestrating everything from Above. When we say this brachah, we need to focus our gratitude on the countless precisely timed “miracles” that we experience daily.

Faith in Footsteps

L’fanav Naavod teaches us that recognizing how Hashem directs all of our footsteps gives us a deeper level of emunah. When we’re cognizant of the direct Hashgachah overseeing all of our movements, we realize the extent to which Hashem is intimately involved in all aspects of our lives.

The Chovos Halevavos (Shaar Habitachon 1) explains that we need to work on bitachon and menuchas hanefesh intellectually as well as emotionally. Rav Chatzkel Levenstein adds that we need to intimately feel this emunah, in every step of our life. Reciting this brachah gives us the chance to pause each day and think about how much Hashem takes care of us and how He directs the different aspects of our lives. A great sense of tranquility should overcome us each day, and we should be filled with the strong sense of belief that Hashem deeply cares for us.

Rav Shlomo Wolbe adds that this brachah enables us to feel simchah in our avodas Hashem, knowing that Hashem gives all of us exactly what we need and orchestrates our lives to perfection. Hence, when challenges come our way during the day, and things don’t go exactly as we planned, our frustration will be replaced with a smile, knowing this is how it really is supposed to be.

Laboker Rinah adds an entirely different dimension to this brachah. In perek 27 of Tehillim we say, “Horeini Hashem darkecha, unecheini b’orach mishor,” asking Hashem to show us the correct path and lead us in the straight way. This brachah, therefore, acknowledges that Hashem leads the footsteps of man, and further beseeches Him that He lead us in the correct path.

The Gra (Mishlei 16) notes that before walking on any path or engaging on any endeavor, we must assess whether there’s any potential for sin or negativity, and daven to Hashem to be saved from any evil. Indeed, the Chayei Adam (chelek beis, klal 143) remarks that one way to be saved from potential sin is to constantly daven “Horeini Hashem darkecha.” In life, we make the choices of which path we wish to go on — and then we need to daven that we will have siyata d’Shmaya to succeed on that path. This brachah reminds us that Hashem will ultimately lead us on the path we wish to go on.

How fascinating, then, that it’s only this brachah that has a special tefillah connected specifically to it. The gemara in Berachos 29b, teaches that prior to going on a journey we say tefillas haderech. Our paths in life are fraught with tremendous unknowns, as well as potential dangers, physically and spiritually. We need to constantly implore that Hashem lead us in the best and proper path. At the same time, we need to recognize that when we encounter any challenges, the challenges themselves outline the best path for us.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 628)