Jacob Prays Before Trouble Comes as He Sends Benjamin

[Another interpretation of (Genesis 43:14):] "AND MAY GOD ALMIGHTY GRANT YOU MERCY." Let our master teach us: From where did they ordain to bless over food? As it is said (Deuteronomy 8:10), "And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless" — this is after [the meal]. Before the meal, from where? Rabbi Hiyya taught in the name of Rabbi Akiva (from Leviticus 19:24), "Holy, praises to the Lord" — this teaches that it requires a blessing before it and after it. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Just as I am required to bring down rains, and to make winds return, and to bring down dews, so too you are required to bless Me, and to be careful to pray before Me. Do not regard yourself, in the time of ease, as one who scorns prayer; and when trouble arrives, you would then stand and pray. No, my son, do not do this; rather, before the trouble comes, you should pray ahead of time, as it is said (Job 36:19), "Will your cry avail, without distress, and all the exertions of strength?" Know this, for behold, our father Jacob — Benjamin was with him, and he did not know what was destined to befall him; he began to pray ahead of time, as it is said, "And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may send away to you your other brother and Benjamin." And so the proverb says: "Honor the physician before you have need of him." What is "and all the exertions of strength"? That thus they made [their prayers] exertions of strength.