Promises of Politicians

“Hashem is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” (Bamidbar 23:19) 

What Human Promises Are Worth 

We see it plainly, again and again, that one cannot rely on people’s promises and commitments — not even on the promises of heads of state, government officials, or politicians. 

You cannot even trust the wealthiest and most powerful men. Time after time they fail to keep their word in the end, whether from unwillingness or from inability. 

Moments like these — when we can witness these empty and broken promises, these unfulfilled  platforms and commitments — these are moments we need to seize and use to help us strengthen our middah of bitachon, the attribute of trust in Hashem. 

The pasuk (verse) in Tehillim (118:8) says, “Tov lachasos baHashem mibtoach ba’adam” — “It is better to take refuge in Hashem than to trust in man.” The Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk zt”l explained that we can take “refuge in Hashem” and strengthen our bitachon, precisely by seeing what good comes “from trust in man.” 

Yet, we have an obligation to put in our effort, our hishtadlut. And that might require us to lobby heads of state, negotiate with politicians, or beseech wealthy individuals to utilize their resources to help. However, we must never lose focus on the reality that we must have bitachon in Hashem. We must put in our main effort to daven (pray) to the King of Kings, to Hashem Who keeps every one of His promises. As Dovid HaMelech said (Tehillim 146:3), “Al tivtechu vindivim, b’ven adam she’ein lo seshuah” — “Do not place your trust in nobles, in a mortal man who holds no salvation.” 

Warm in the Beit Midrash, Cold in the Office 

We see this all the time. Someone approaches a wealthy individual during Shacharit  (Morning prayers)  seeking financial help for a worthy cause. The affluent person is moved and enthusiastically agrees to give generously to this cause. But he doesn’t have a checkbook or wallet with him, so he asks the person to come to his office in a few hours to collect a check. 

And then, when he comes to the office a few hours later to collect his check, the philanthropist starts making excuses. 

Where did this complete about-face come from? In the shul (synagogue) he was so warm and fired up for the mitzvah, and a few hours later in the office that fire, that passion to help this person, has completely vanished! 

Every person has a spiritual side and a physical side. When he is in shul, the spiritual side is the one in control at that moment, so when someone comes to speak with him about a mitzvah he grows enthusiastic and wants to give tzedakah generously. But when they come to him in the office, there the physical side already holds sway, and since he is focused on the superficial pursuit of money and wealth, it becomes hard to get anything out of him for a mitzvah. 

His Spirit Departs 

On this basis the seforim (sacred books) explain the pesukim (verses) in Tehillim. “Al tivtechu  vindivim, b’ven adam she’ein lo seshuah” — “Do not place your trust in nobles, in a mortal man who holds no salvation.” 

You cannot rely on the generosity of a person who promised you a donation in the shul, for no salvation will come from him. And why? “Teitzei rucho, yashuv l’admaso” — “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth.” Meaning, the moment he steps out of the shul, the spiritual side leaves him and the physical side takes hold. 

And if you ask how his mind can change so completely within a few hours, to this the pasuk says, “bayom  hahu avdu eshtonosav” — “on that very day his designs are lost.” That very same day he already forgets what he promised in the shul only hours earlier, under the influence of the self-interest now pulling at him from the side of the physical and mundane. 

The Heart of a Politician 

The same thing happens with politicians and government officials. 

Sometimes they make promises and passionate commitments to fight for what is just and fair. In their  minds they understand that it is indeed the right thing to do. But afterward, when that ideal is faced with an opposing self-interest that pulls them to act contrary to those ideals, they reverse their position and forget every one of their promises. 

There are even times when we see these politicians shift direction and abandon their promises even without any self-serving reasons. And there are times when the Jewish community faces hardships and challenges as a result. The reason is that there has been a decree from Heaven that the Yidden will need to experience these challenges. In that case, even if the politician is a good man, Hashem turns his heart, as Shlomo HaMelech said (Mishlei 21:1), “Lev melech b’yad Hashem, al kol asher yachpotz yatenu” — “The heart of a king is in the hand of Hashem; He directs it wherever He wishes.” 

The pasuk similarly says in Tehillim (119:161): “Sarim redafuni chinam” — “Princes pursued me without cause”: when officials persecute for no reason at all, it proves that their hearts hang on the decree of Hashem. And so, of itself, I learn from this — “umidvarcha  pachad libi” — “yet it is Your word my heart fears”: that the only thing to fear is the  word of Hashem. 

The Lesson of Mitzrayim 

Klal Yisroel experienced this in Mitzrayim, Egypt. 

At first the Yidden were leaders and people of influence in Mitzrayim, under the leadership of Yosef HaTzaddik, who was viceroy to Pharaoh. But once the decree of galut, exile, had been sealed upon the Jewish people, Hashem turned the heart of Pharaoh and his officials, as it is written (Tehillim 105:25), “Hafach libam lisno amo” — “He turned their heart to hate His people.” And only after they cried out in tefillah (prayer) to Hashem did He bring about the redemption, changing Pharaoh’s intentions once again so that he agreed to release them. 

And even after Pharaoh promised to release them, Hashem orchestrated that he went back on his word  again and again. And even after he had already sent them out of Mitzrayim, Hashem brought it about that he regretted it and chased after them all the way to the Yam Suf, the Red Sea. 

All of this happened, so that they would see and remember, that one must not trust in the promises of people, and would learn to lean on our Father in Heaven alone — the only One Who kept every promise He had made to our forefathers in Mitzrayim and in the wilderness. And it was on the strength of this bitachon that they journeyed and waged war against all the kings of the nations of the world, and merited to inherit the Promised Land. 

What Bilaam Saw 

This is what we find in our parshah: 

Balak sent Bilaam to discover the secret of Klal Yisroel’s great strength, and to this Bilaam said, at the very opening of his words, that the primary and essential thing is that they know and remember that “Lo ish Keil viychazeiv, uven adam v’yisnecham” — “Hashem is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” 

Only Hashem never deceives and never goes back on His promises. And so they do not pour their efforts into seeking the promises of human beings — who lie and change their minds — to make pacts of peace with them and the like; rather, they daven to Hashem and rely on Him to keep His promises, to do good to those who keep His word and turn to Him. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. Sign up at www.kaalov.org.