Another matter, “a bull, or a sheep, or a goat” – that is what is written: “What was, already is” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says; Were a person to say to you: ‘Had Adam the first man not sinned and eaten from that tree, he would have lived and endured for eternity,’ you say to him: ‘There has already been Elijah, who did not sin, and he lives and endures for eternity.’
“What will be already was” (Ecclesiastes 3:15) – were a person to say to you: ‘The Holy One blessed be He is destined to revive the dead for us,’ you say to him: “It already was” – by means of Elijah, by means of Elisha, and by means of Ezekiel. Rav Aḥa said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer ben Ḥalafta: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He is destined to make and innovate in His world in the future, He has already made some of it by means of His righteous prophets in this world.
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is I who is destined to transform the sea into dry land. But did I not already do so by means of Moses? As it is written: “You, raise your staff…[and extend your staff over the sea and split it and the children of Israel will come into the sea on dry land]” (Exodus 14:16). It is I who is destined to remember the barren women.
I have already done so: “The Lord remembered Sarah” (Genesis 21:1). It is I who am destined to cause kings to prostrate themselves to you, as it is stated: “Kings will be your caregivers, and their princesses, your wet nurses; [they will prostrate themselves before you]” (Isaiah 49:23). I have already done so by means of Daniel, as Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself to Daniel, as it is stated: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, and he prostrated himself to Daniel” (Daniel 2:46).
I open the eyes of the blind. I have already done so, as it is stated: “The Lord opened the eyes of the lad” (II Kings 6:17), of Elisha.’