Why God's Blessing Comes With Protection Unlike a King's Gift

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Noach 7:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation: A person whom the king loves, the king honors him with silver and gold and garments, and he makes him wealthy. And he goes out on a ship, and the wind comes and destroys the ship. Where now is the king's gift? Behold, he had honored him and enriched him! Could he possibly have saved him from the sea, and from the robbers? But the Holy One, blessed be He, is not so. Rather, He gives a gift to a person and guards him, as it is said, "The LORD bless you and keep you" (Numbers 6:24). He blessed Abraham and kept him, as it is said, "And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things" (Genesis 24:1). He blessed Isaac and kept him, as it is said, "And God blessed Isaac his son" (Genesis 25:11). He blessed Jacob and kept him, as it is said, "And God appeared to Jacob again [...] and blessed him" (Genesis 35:9).

Themes

PatriarchsBlessingKingsProtectionSin

Biblical References

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