No One Can Give to God Before God Gives First

Rabbi Tanchuma opened: "Who has given to Me beforehand, that I should repay him? Whatever is under all the heavens is Mine" (Job 41:3). This refers to a bachelor who dwells in a province and pays the wages of teachers of Scripture and Mishnah. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: It is upon Me to repay his recompense with a male child. Rabbi Jeremiah bar Eleazar said: In the future a heavenly voice (bat kol) will burst forth upon the tops of the mountains and say: Whoever has acted together with God, let him come and receive his reward. [This is what is written: "At this time it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel, what has God wrought" (Numbers 23:23).] And the Holy Spirit cries out: "Who has given to Me beforehand, that I should repay him?" Who praised before Me before I placed a soul within him? Who circumcised before Me before I gave him a male child? Who made tzitzit before Me before I gave him a cloak? Who made a parapet [before I gave him a roof? Who made a mezuzah] before I gave him a house? Who made a sukkah before Me before I gave him a place? Who set aside pe'ah before I gave him a field? Who set aside terumah and tithe before I gave him a threshing floor? Who set aside firstborn offerings, tithes, and a sacrifice before I gave him an animal? [This is what is written:] "A bull, or a sheep, or a goat" (Leviticus 22:27).