Guarding the Honor of the Righteous and the Rains That Fall for Their Sake

(Genesis 12:3) "And I will bless those who bless you." The Holy One, blessed be He, was stricter regarding the honor of the righteous than regarding His own honor. It is written, "And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, I Myself." But regarding His own honor it is written, "For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed" (1 Samuel 2:30) [where He does not say "I Myself"]. "And in you shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3): the rains by your merit, the dews by your merit. This is what is written, "And the matter became known to Mordecai, and he told it to Esther the queen, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai" (Esther 2:22). This one [Mordecai] was circumcised and that one [the king] was uncircumcised, and yet he had regard for him. Rabbi Judah says: "From the elders I gain understanding" (Psalm 119:100). Jacob blessed Pharaoh, "And Jacob blessed Pharaoh" (Genesis 47:7). Joseph did not reveal Pharaoh's dream to him [until asked], Daniel did not reveal Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him [until asked], so too I, "and he told it to Esther the queen." Rabbi Nehemiah says: The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham, "And in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). If for wealth, they are wealthier than we. Rather, when they enter into trouble, they ask of us and we reveal to them. [Written at Remez 709, Naso, letter 132.]