Toldos 5786 – Yitzchak’s Accounts

Ever had it happen that money just appeared in your bank account? That the balance was far higher than what you were expecting? It may sound like a dream to some, but it can be a nightmare for others. There is little in the world more disturbing than not knowing what is going on with one’s finances—whether business or personal.

The Torah tells us that this is exactly what happened to Yitzchak. He began an agricultural venture, planting and reaping in the land of Gerar. Despite the land being particularly infertile and the year being one of famine, he managed to produce an impressive return of 100× equity in a single year (26:12). That’s an IRR of 9,900%, even under the conservative assumption that it took only one year to produce.

The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 12:6) comments that Chazal generally discourage measuring one’s material gains, stating that “blessing is not found in something that is counted, weighed, or measured.” The philosophical basis for this is that Hashem avoids performing open miracles; therefore, He is less likely to intervene when the result would be immediately noticeable. If accounts remain messy and stocks are unmeasured, G-d can “get away” with increasing blessing under the radar.

So why, then, did Yitzchak measure his crops against the advice of Chazal?
The Midrash explains that he did so solely in order to give maaser, a tenth of his profits to charity. The message of prioritization is clear. It wasn’t the cash flow or the profit margins that interested Yitzchak. He put in his effort, but the bottom line was in the Hands of Hashem. Nevertheless, Yitzchak chose to be meticulous in accounting so he would know exactly how much to give to those in need.

If you have unexpected money in your account or other financial issues that require assistance, please reach out at [email protected].

Good Shabbos.