When Mashiach comes, we’ll discover the purpose of all that happened to us in galus

“These are the travels of Bnei Yisrael….” (Bamidbar 33:1)

T

he parshah lists the 42 encampments of Bnei Yisrael through the Desert. The Baal Shem Tov says that every Yid will travel 42 times in his lifetime, too.

These travels don’t necessarily mean moving from one place to another or from one country to the next. In its simplest meaning, we learn that everyone experiences 42 different situations in his lifetime. There are years when things are going quite well and years with hardships, wealthy years and poorer years.

It’s essential to remember that each station and situation in life is destined by Hashem. (Rav Elimelech Biderman, Torah Wellsprings)

I’m not a travel person. I love to see new places, but getting there… isn’t there an app for that?

Years ago, though, my daughter was learning in Gateshead, and as a byproduct, was enjoying her flight stopovers all across Europe. When she found insanely cheap tickets to Switzerland, she was determined to drag her sisters and me along for the ride. I’d always wanted to see Switzerland, so I figured the tirchah would be worth it. Cheapo tickets had us landing in Basel, Switzerland, where we planned to rent a car and then drive to the mountains.

One of the first stops in the Desert was Marah. The Torah says, “They weren’t able to drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter…” (Shemos 15:23). Hashem could have brought them to a different area where there was drinkable water. But Hashem wanted them to have this test, and planned it accordingly.

The flight went without a hitch. We landed in Switzerland and made our way to the Avis counter.

“I’m sorry, madam,” the clerk said in clipped European English.  “We have no reservation for you.”

“Here’s my confirmation number.” I pushed the paper across the counter. “As you see, I do have a reservation for today.”

“Yes,” he nodded, “but you rented a car in Switzerland, and you’re not in Switzerland right now.”

Cue Twilight Zone music. Had our plane been hijacked without my knowledge?

“Um, so where exactly am I?” Obviously not in Kansas anymore either.

“You’re in France,” the clerk said, his tone conveying that I surely should’ve known that already.

Curiouser and curiouser. How did I get to France? And how do I get from here to Switzerland? Second star to the right and straight on till morning?

The location where a person finds himself is decided and preplanned by Hashem. As it says, “By Hashem’s word, Bnei Yisrael would travel, and by Hashem’s word, Bnei Yisrael would encamp…” (Bamidbar 9:18).

Rebbe Dovid of Lelov taught that we don’t always understand why we must pass through these 42 stations. But when Mashiach comes, we’ll discover the purpose of all that happened to us in galus. Then we’ll see how everything was for our benefit.

Hashem told Moshe, “You will see My back but My Face you will not see” (Shemos 33:23). The Chasam Sofer explains that at first, one doesn’t understand why he must go through hardships. But when he looks back, he sees what he gained from those situations.

As we sojourn through our 42 stations in life, we must always remember that everything is happening exactly the way Hashem desires it. Nothing happens by accident.

The clerk spoke slowly, obviously assuming I was half-witted: “Just go down this hallway, make a left, and you’ll be in Switzerland.”

I was completely flummoxed. Should I follow the yellow brick road? Where was border control? How had I gotten here? And if I made a right accidentally, would I fall down another rabbit hole?

Finally, the clerk had mercy on me and explained.

Basel’s airport services two different countries, France and Switzerland. When entering the terminal, turning right brings you into France and a left brings you into Switzerland. (That must save money on personnel. But who pays the taxes?)

Apparently, the Hobbit was right. The world is not in books and maps, but down the left hallway, where lo and behold, without any border control or change of scenery at all, we were in an identical room, facing an identical Avis counter that had my reservation all ready for me… in Switzerland.

We sped off in our rental car with a new life lesson and direction: You don’t always land where you think you landed. Wherever life leads you, though,  it’s worth the journey. Welcome to Never-Say-Neverland.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 851)