The sages pondered this question deeply, and stories like this one from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 36) offer a glimpse into the intricate workings of Providence.

Rab Huna tells us that everything is "revealed and foreseen" before God. But what does that mean? Let’s look at the story of Jacob and Laban for an example.

Before Jacob even arrived in Haran, something interesting happened. God sent a plague upon Laban’s sheep. Before Jacob even makes his fateful journey to find a wife, the stage is being set.

The plague decimated Laban’s flocks, leaving only a few survivors. And who was tending to these remaining sheep? Rachel, of course. The Torah tells us, "Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them" (Genesis 29:9). It all feels so... orchestrated, doesn't it?

How do we know that so few sheep remained? The verse says, "And Jacob fed the rest of Laban’s flocks" (Genesis 30:36). Notice that word: "the rest." This "rest" is what was left after the plague. Jacob's arrival, then, wasn't just a coincidence. He was there to help Laban's flocks recover, to "increase and multiply" them.

The sages draw a powerful lesson from this: "Sometimes the foot of man destroys the house, and sometimes the foot of man blesses the house." It's a beautiful and slightly cryptic saying. The rabbis are telling us our actions, our very presence, can have profound consequences, both positive and negative. And it all ties back to Divine Providence.

This idea is echoed in Laban’s own words. He says to Jacob, "I have divined that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake" (Genesis 30:27). Laban, a shrewd and not particularly pious man, recognizes that Jacob's presence has brought him blessings. He divined it, meaning he sensed it, maybe even begrudgingly admitted it. As it is also stated, "And the Lord hath blessed thee at my foot" (Genesis 30:30).

So, what does this all mean for us? It’s a reminder that even seemingly random events can be part of a larger plan. It's a call to be mindful of our actions, knowing that they can have far-reaching consequences. It's also, perhaps, a comforting thought: that even before we arrive on the scene, God is already at work, shaping the world around us, preparing the way. Maybe, just maybe, even sending a little plague to set the stage.