Rabbi Yehiel Michal, who did not believe in the Baal Shem Tov yet continued to hear extravagant praises of him, decided to visit Medzibuz to test the Besht to see just how much was true. When he met the Baal Shem Tov, a great awe of the Besht descended on him. But after a few minutes, this intense feeling dissipated, and it occurred to him that perhaps the Besht was an am-haaretz, an unlearned man-- and because of that, Rabbi Michal thought less of him. At that moment, the Besht grabbed him by his arm and said, "Michli, you're an am-haaretz!" Rabbi Michal was astonished that the Besht seemed to know his thoughts. But he decided that it was a mere coincidence and he did not believe in him.

While Rabbi Yehiel Michal was in Medzibuz, the Baal Shem Tov one day invited him to accompany him on a trip he had to make. They travelled in the Besht's coach and after a number of hours reached a town. But that town was not on the way to their destination and it became clear that the Baal Shem Tov was lost. Rabbi Yehiel Michal was amused by this and said mockingly, "Doesn't the rabbi know the way?"-- meaning: "If what everybody says is true, that you have the holy spirit, how come you don't even know the right road to take?" "I do know," said the Besht, and they continued to travel. After a few more hours on the road, they again arrived at another town, but not where they needed to go. "The rabbi went wrong again!" laughed Rabbi Yehiel Michal. The Besht did not respond to his mockery. But after some time, he said, "It's written: 'He does the will of those who fear Him.' The Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to fulfill your desire to make fun of me. So, against my will, I went the wrong way."

If a person tests a spiritual master, to see whether he knows the way to God, and has a hidden desire to find him wrong and to mock him, that is what he will find. Rabbi Yehiel Michal was a tzaddik, and God, blessed be He, fulfilled his wrong desire. But the Baal Shem Tov did not give up on this holy young man.