Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, grapples with this very idea. It tells a story about someone who posed this question directly.
Rabbi Abba bar Kahana suggests that the wisest request is to ask for sovereignty. Power? Really? Well, let's dig a little deeper.
The story then turns to DAVID and SOLOMON. David, it says, asked for only one thing. Simple, focused. But Solomon? He asked for two. Check out Proverbs 30:7-9: "Two things I ask of You; do not deny them to me before I die. Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches; provide me with food in my allotted portion, lest, being sated, I renounce and deny You and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or, being impoverished, I take to theft and profane the name of my God."
See what Solomon’s doing here? He’s asking for balance. He’s saying, “God, don’t give me too much, don’t give me too little. Just enough." He understands the dangers of both extremes.
Now, which of those two requests do you think is harder to fulfill? That's the question posed in the midrash. The answer given? The latter - the plea to avoid poverty.
And that brings us to a really tough point. Why, the text asks, did God seemingly give up on preventing idolatry, sexual immorality, and murder… but not on the desecration of His name, Chillul Hashem? This is a powerful concept in Jewish thought - Chillul Hashem - when our actions, especially as Jews, cause God's name to be profaned or dishonored in the eyes of others.
Ezekiel 36:39 speaks to this: "As for those who follow their abhorrent practices, they will suffer the consequences. I will place their conduct on their own heads, declares the Lord God," and "But you, House of Israel, shall no longer profane My holy name with your gifts and your abhorrent things."
It's a stark warning. Our behavior matters. It reflects, or should reflect, our connection to something higher. When we fall short, it's not just a personal failing; it impacts the perception of God in the world.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Is it just about avoiding Chillul Hashem? I think it’s deeper than that. It's about recognizing the weight of our choices and understanding that they ripple outwards, affecting not just ourselves but the world's understanding of faith, ethics, and the divine. And maybe, just maybe, the most important thing to ask for is the wisdom to make those choices with intention and awareness.