Rabbi Tanḥuma began: “Who has given Me anything beforehand, that I shall pay? Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3). This is an unmarried man who lives in the province and gives toward the salary of Bible teachers and Mishna teachers. The Holy One blessed be He says: ‘It is incumbent upon Me to pay his compensation and reward and to grant him a male offspring.’
Rabbi Yirmeya ben Rabbi Elazar said: A Divine Voice is destined to explode on the mountaintops and say: ‘Let anyone who acted with God come and take his reward.’ That is what is written: “Now, it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel [what God has wrought]” (Numbers 23:23). The Divine Spirit says: ‘“Who has given Me anything beforehand, that I shall pay?” Who lauded Me before I gave him a soul?
Who spoke My name before I granted him a male offspring? Who constructed Me a fence before I gave him a roof? Who made a mezuza for My sake before I gave him a house? Who made a sukka for My sake before I gave him a place?
Who made a lulav for My sake before I gave him money? Who made ritual fringes for My sake before I gave him a garment? Who separated the corner of his field [pe’a] for My sake before I gave him a field? Who separated teruma for My sake before I gave him a threshing floor?
Who separated ḥalla for My sake before I gave him dough? Who separated an offering for My sake before I gave him an animal?’ That is what is written: “A bull, or a sheep, or a goat, [when it is born…from the eighth day and on it shall be accepted as a fire offering to the Lord].”7The only reason you are able to bring the offering is because “it is born” – because God gave it to you.