The following, is a true story that demonstrates, the power of simple and sincere faith in G-d.
Faithful to the instructions he had received from Heaven, the Holy Baal Shem Tov once invited a group of his students to accompany him in his wagon to a certain town, so that they could learn by example, the power of trust in G-d, bitachon.
The local innkeeper was pleased to see them and welcomed them graciously. The next morning, while they were doing their morning prayers, a police officer walked in with a stick in hand, banged on the table three times and left. The students, baffled, froze in their places, but their host remained as cheerful as he had been before. Half an hour later the same man returned, banged on the table three times, and left.
The local innkeeper was pleased to see them and welcomed them graciously. The next morning, while they were doing their morning prayers, a police officer walked in with a stick in hand, banged on the table three times and left. The students, baffled, froze in their places, but their host remained as cheerful as he had been before. Half an hour later the same man returned, banged on the table three times, and left.
When the Baal Shem Tov asked the innkeeper to explain these strange events, he said, "This is a warning. The policeman is reminding me to bring the rental payment to the land owner. It is repeated three times, and if I do not bring the money at that point, my family and I will be thrown into the dungeon."
Hearing this, the Baal Shem Tov told him, "Judging from your calmness, you must have the money ready, so why don't you go and pay your rent? We will await your return, and then we will be able to take our places at your table peacefully."
The innkeeper answered, "Truthfully, at the moment I don't have a single coin, but G-d will surely not forsake me. He will provide the money. Let us eat without haste, because three hours still remain to the time limit."
They ate together unhurriedly, and the innkeeper's face disclosed no sign of his dangerous plight. At the end of the meal, the officer strode in for the third time and once again banged on the table, but the innkeeper, unruffled, remained calmly in his place. After saying the grace after meals with deep concentration, the innkeeper went off to get dressed in his Sabbath clothing. When he rejoined them and announced that he would now go pay and his dues, the Baal Shem Tov asked him again if he had the money he needed.
Shaking his head, the host answered, "I haven't got a single penny yet, but I am sure G-d will take care of me!"
He took his leave and the Baal Shem Tov and his students went out to the porch overlooking the road that stretched out before them, to see him off as he set out on his mission by foot.
From the distance they saw a wagon driving towards the innkeeper, which slowed down as he exchanged a few words with the wagon driver. The wagon then continued on its way. After a few moments, its driver backtracked, called out to the innkeeper, and then handed him some money. The wagon then resumed its route towards the inn, where the curious onlookers asked the driver what had transpired.
"I had proposed a deal to the innkeeper," he said, "and offered to buy all the liquor he is due to make this winter, but he didn't agree to my price and continued on his way. Seeing his stubbornness, but knowing his honesty, I decided to give him the amount he had asked for. He then excused himself and hurried ahead, explaining that he was on his way to pay his rent."
The Baal Shem Tov turned to his students and said, "Look, how powerful, is the behavior and conduct of trust in G-d, bitachon!"
“Blessed is the man who puts his trust in G-d, G-d will (then) be his security.” “Trust in G-d forever and ever, for in G-d, is the strength of the worlds.”