That tension, that push-and-pull, it's something our ancestors wrestled with too. And wouldn't you know it, the ancient wisdom of the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms, speaks directly to this. It uses Psalm 80, opening with the plea "Shepherd of Israel, listen," as a springboard for a powerful idea.
The Midrash suggests that the year of redemption and the year of sustenance are deeply connected. Just as the year of redemption sustains us spiritually, so too the year of sustenance – our daily needs being met – brings its own kind of redemption. It's a beautiful cycle. : we need both the miraculous intervention and the daily provision. And the Midrash goes further, suggesting that these aren't just yearly events, but daily realities. Just as sustenance is provided every single day, so too does redemption come every single day. And here's the kicker: both involve miracles! We often think of redemption as this huge, dramatic event, but maybe it's also woven into the everyday miracles of having our needs met.
Then comes a fascinating debate. Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani, a prominent sage of the Amoraic period, takes it a step further. He suggests that sustenance is even greater than redemption! Now, how could that be? His reasoning is that redemption, at least in the story of Jacob, came through an angel, as we see in Genesis 48:16: "The angel who redeemed me from all harm." But sustenance, he argues, comes directly from God, as it says in Psalm 23: "God who shepherds me." Whoa. Direct divine intervention in our daily bread.
So, what does this mean for us? The Midrash urges us to act like Joseph's flock. Remember the story of Joseph in Egypt? He gathered grain during the years of plenty to prepare for the years of famine. The Midrash uses this as a metaphor: just as Joseph gathered grain, so too should we gather sustenance from this world for the next. We need to prepare ourselves spiritually, gathering good deeds and positive experiences, to sustain us in the future.
And it doesn't stop there. The Midrash continues, drawing a parallel between how Joseph provided for his brothers "bread according to their children's needs" (Genesis 47:12) and how God provides for us. It's a plea: provide for us according to our deeds.
Rabbi Tanhuma, citing Rabbi Avin, adds another layer. Joseph repaid his brothers' evil deeds with good. Likewise, the Midrash suggests we have repaid God's "evil" deeds - interpreted here as difficult commandments or trials – as if we had transgressed. Yet, God has repaid us with good. It's a striking image of a relationship built on forgiveness and grace.
This whole passage is a powerful meditation on our relationship with the divine. It suggests that sustenance and redemption aren't separate, but intertwined. It challenges us to see the miraculous in the mundane and to strive to be worthy of the blessings we receive. So, the next time you sit down to a meal, remember: you're not just filling your belly, you're experiencing a small miracle, a daily redemption. And that’s something to be grateful for.