According to a fashionable view, you shouldn’t try too hard. Everyone should put in their hishtadlus — some minimal effort — but no one should believe that this effort affects the outcome. Man depends on God’s grace and God’s goodness for success. Not much can be expected of him, but everything can be expected of Him. Indeed, a truly righteous man would not make any effort at all. He would rely totally on God for provision and for success. What is the Jewish view?
Overwhelmingly, Jewish authorities disagree with this perspective1. Yaakov learned that Esav was bringing along four-hundred men — armed, dangerous, and violent. Yaakov knew that God would prevent the total destruction of his children. God promised him and promised his fathers before him: the children of Avraham will not perish from the earth. Jewry may suffer partial destruction. We often have. The Jews of one country are exterminated. But the Jews of another abide. (Bereishis Rabbah 76:3).
Even so — even though Yaakov knew some of his family would survive — he prepared. He advocated for safety in prayer to God. He pressed for peace from Esav. He divided his camp into two. He armed his family. (Koheles Rabbah 9:18). He did not assume that God would act on his behalf, because he would not assume he was so righteous or so deserving. He did not rely on the promise God made, though he knew God would deliver. Yaakov took responsibility for himself, for his family, and for his people. Yaakov did not abdicate. Yaakov acted. And so Yaakov became and begot Yisrael. (Ramban intro to Vayishlach and Bereishis 32:9).
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This view may enjoy popularity because its most prominent proponents — Martin Luther and John Calvin — have shaped modern thought. Many individuals accidentally take their cues from the surrounding culture rather than from the chachmei hamesorah. However, none of the major Rishonim appear to endorse it: see Rambam in his Letter on Astrology and Hilchos Sechirus 13:7 and Tosafos on Kiddushin 41a. ↩︎