My Father A’H was very particular to wash for Melava Malka and tell a story of the Baal Shem Tov. On Parshas Behar he told a story that he heard from Rabbi Shmuel Levitan, and explained its connection to Parshas Behar.
When the Parsha discusses Shmitah, it says that if you will ask what will we eat when there is Shmitah or Yovel year, Hashem answers that He will command His bracha-v’Tzivisi es Birchasi. Hashem assures those that ask His blessings for sustenance. Why does the Torah have to say that if you will ask, then I will command? Let the Torah simply state that if you will observe the laws of Shmitah and Yovel then Hashem will send His blessings?
To answer this question, my Father told a story about Reb Dovid Lekas a Talmid of the Baal Shem Tov. Once he sent a Shadchan to a woman to make a wedding proposal. The woman refused the offer explaining that she still wanted children and he was too old to have children. He sent back an answer that he promised her a child. She sent back an answer saying that even if they do have a child, she will end up raising it by herself. He sent back a message that he promised her that they would both be there to take their child to the Chupah. The woman agreed to the proposal, they got married and had a son.
At the wedding by the Kabbalos Panim there was a discussion about emunas Tzaddikim. Reb Dovid, the father of the Chosson told the following story about the true meaning of emunas Tzaddikim. One Motzoi Shabbos after Havdala there were no candles, and the Baal Shem Tov loved light. The Baal Shem Tov told all of us to put our hands into our pockets and pull out a certain coin. He said that we then should collect the coins to buy candles and food for Melava Malka. Everyone there that night had been there from Shabbos and this was immediately afterwards. Nevertheless no one hesitated or questioned and we indeed found the coin in each of our pockets. The fact that the coins were there, was a miracle of the Baal Shem Tov. The fact that we did not even hesitate or ask before pulling out the coins was because of our complete emunah in the Baal Shem Tov.
When it comes to the Shemitah year, if we do not have any questions, certainly we will receive the brachos. With regard to Shmitah however, there is a special exception. Hashem says that even if you will ask a question, nevertheless; v’Tzivisi es birchasi- I will make an exception to the norm and even then, even with the question, guarantee my blessings for sustenance.
Asking questions when we have received a blessing can interfere with its fulfillment. There was many times my Father also told the following story. There was a Chosid of the Alter Rebbe who didn’t have children. He went to the Alter Rebbe but did not receive a bracha. He decided to go to the Great Chassuna between the Granddaughter of the Alter Rebbe and the Grandson of Rav Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev because he knew that it was an auspicious time and the gates of Heaven would be open to receive a bracha for a child. When he went to the Alter Rebbe for a bracha, the Alter Rebbe instructed him to ask his Mechutan Rav Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev, who indeed gave him a bracha. As this Chosid was leaving, he began to wonder why it was that the Alter Rebbe sent him to Rav Levi Yitzchok for a bracha. After all the Alter Rebbe was the head of the Holy Society of the Talmidim of the Maggid. Why didn’t He give the bracha? As he was thinking he heard a voice call out from Reb Levi Yitzchok, “Young man, young man, don’t think (ask questions), and don’t ruin it!” That’s because his emunah is the vessel for the bracha, and not his intellect.