Our tradition grapples with this too. The ancient text of Sifrei Devarim, a legal commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy, offers a powerful perspective on divine retribution and ultimate reward. It's all about timing, and who is really in control.
The phrase "sealed in My stores" paints a vivid image. What does it mean? Sifrei Devarim interprets it as complete and lacking nothing. Think of a perfectly preserved treasure, waiting for its moment. But what's the treasure, and who gets it?
Here’s where it gets interesting. The text connects this idea of sealed stores to the righteous. It suggests that the righteous don't fully receive their due in this world. They leave something untouched, sealed away. As Proverbs 8:21 says, "And I shall fill their stores," and Psalm 31:20 echoes, "How abundant is Your good that You have stored away for those who fear You." It’s as if there's a cosmic savings account earmarked for those who live righteously.
So, when do they get it? Sifrei Devarim answers: "Tomorrow," at the redemption. The ultimate reckoning. And it quotes Deuteronomy itself: "Mine is revenge and payment!" It’s a promise, a guarantee that justice will be served, eventually. But not just any justice.
The text emphasizes that God, Himself, will exact payment. Not through an angel, not through a messenger. This is personal. This is direct. The text contrasts this with instances where God did use intermediaries. For example, the verse in Exodus 3:10, "Go and I shall send you to Pharaoh," where Moses is the messenger. Or the story in II Kings 19:35, "And an angel of the L-rd went out and smote in the camp of Ashur." Those were different situations.
But when it comes to ultimate revenge and payment, God takes it on directly.
What does this mean for us? Maybe it’s about trusting in a larger plan, even when we can't see it. Knowing that even if things feel unbalanced now, there’s a promise of future redemption, a “tomorrow” where things will be made right. It's a powerful assertion that justice isn't just an abstract concept, but a personal commitment from the Divine. It’s easy to get caught up in the immediate, the now. But Sifrei Devarim reminds us to look towards that "tomorrow," and to trust in the ultimate source of justice. What do you think? Is it comforting, or challenging, to imagine that ultimate reckoning?