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Daily Chizuk #1569
Parnasa / Money
Strengthened Hope: A Call to Courage in Faith
On the night before Yetziat Mitzrayim, when Hashem struck the Egyptian firstborns, the Jewish people were commanded to remain inside their homes until morning. Rashi explains that Chazal teach in Masechet Bava Kama: " - מאחר שניתנה רשות למשחית לחבל אינו מבחין בין צדיק לרשע- Once the destroying angel is given permission to destroy, he no longer distinguishes between a tzaddik and a rasha." Since the angel had permission that night, the Jewish people were instructed to stay indoors and out of harm's way.
At first glance, this seems troubling. Does it mean that even a tzaddik can be harmed, despite his righteousness? How do we reconcile this with Avraham Avinu's plea when he heard that Hashem planned to destroy Sedom? He said, "Far be it from You to kill the righteous along with the wicked!"—suggesting that Hashem would never allow a tzaddik to suffer unjustly.
The Emek Beracha writes further that a tzaddik even has the power to repel the destroying angel, as we see with Aharon Hakohen and Pinchas, who halted plagues through their actions.
Normally, Hashem, in His infinite mercy, gives people years to make teshuva. Someone could even be given decades before he is punished for a sin in the hope that he will repent and not need to be punished. However, if there is a time of divine decree, then the sins of the tzaddik will be brought to light. However, if the tzaddik does not deserve to be punished, the destroying angel will have no power over him. And if he is a tzaddik gamur, he will even repel the angel.
The bottom line is we are always under the hashgacha of Hashem. No person or angel ever has any power of its own. Therefore, we can be calm knowing that we are always only in the hands of Hashem.
At first glance, this seems troubling. Does it mean that even a tzaddik can be harmed, despite his righteousness? How do we reconcile this with Avraham Avinu's plea when he heard that Hashem planned to destroy Sedom? He said, "Far be it from You to kill the righteous along with the wicked!"—suggesting that Hashem would never allow a tzaddik to suffer unjustly.
The Emek Beracha writes further that a tzaddik even has the power to repel the destroying angel, as we see with Aharon Hakohen and Pinchas, who halted plagues through their actions.
Normally, Hashem, in His infinite mercy, gives people years to make teshuva. Someone could even be given decades before he is punished for a sin in the hope that he will repent and not need to be punished. However, if there is a time of divine decree, then the sins of the tzaddik will be brought to light. However, if the tzaddik does not deserve to be punished, the destroying angel will have no power over him. And if he is a tzaddik gamur, he will even repel the angel.
The bottom line is we are always under the hashgacha of Hashem. No person or angel ever has any power of its own. Therefore, we can be calm knowing that we are always only in the hands of Hashem.
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