The Vayikra Rabbah, a fascinating midrashic collection on the Book of Leviticus, explores this very idea. It opens with the verse "If you follow My statutes" (Leviticus 26:3) and connects it to Proverbs 8:32, "Now, sons, heed me, as happy are those who observe my ways." Who are these "sons"? The midrash suggests it’s Jacob, the father of the tribes, the man who wrestled with angels and whose name was changed to Israel.
Remember Jacob's famous vow in Genesis 28:20? “If God will be with me, and will keep me on this path that I am going, and will provide me bread to eat, and a garment to wear, and I will return in peace to my father’s house, then the Lord shall be my God.” It's a pretty comprehensive list of needs and desires, right?
The Rabbis in the midrash, along with Rabbi Asi, delve into the specifics. Did God respond to each of Jacob's requests? Some say yes, some say... almost. The Rabbis argue that while God responded to Jacob regarding protection and safe return – "Behold I am with you… I will keep you… Wherever you will go… I will return you to this land" (Genesis 28:15) – He remained silent on the issue of sustenance. Food and clothing? Crickets.
Why the silence? Was Jacob's request for basic needs somehow less worthy than his yearning for safety and homecoming?
Rabbi Asi offers a different perspective. He believes God did respond to Jacob regarding sustenance, pointing to the phrase "For I will not forsake you" (Genesis 28:15). He argues that "forsaking" is directly related to sustenance. As Psalm 37:25 says, "I was a youth, and I have grown old, and I have not seen a righteous man forsaken, and his offspring seeking bread." Even if they seek bread, they are not ultimately forsaken.
It's a subtle but important distinction. Rabbi Asi implies that God's promise to never forsake Jacob includes ensuring his basic needs are met, even if it's not explicitly stated. It’s a promise of ultimate provision, even amidst temporary struggle.
Rabbi Hoshaya adds a beautiful thought: "Happy is the one born to a woman who hears this from his Creator." Imagine the comfort, the security, knowing that God hears your needs, sees your struggles, and promises to never abandon you.
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa takes it a step further, suggesting a mutual happiness. God says, “I am happy and you are happy when all these conditions that I stipulated with you are fulfilled.” It's not a one-way street. Our fulfillment of our part of the covenant brings joy to the Divine, just as God's fulfillment of His promises brings joy to us.
Rabbi Aḥa extends this idea to Jacob's descendants – to us! "Now, sons, heed Me… I am happy and you are happy when you fulfill all these conditions that I stipulated with you. When? When you observe My Torah, as it is stated: 'If you follow My statutes.'"
So, what does all this mean for us today? It reminds us that our relationship with the Divine is a covenant, a sacred agreement. It involves both our needs and our responsibilities. It invites us to voice our needs, to trust in God's provision, and to find joy in upholding our end of the bargain by living a life guided by Torah.
And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that even when we feel like God is silent on a particular request, we can trust that the promise of "I will not forsake you" still holds true. We may not always get what we want, but we are never truly abandoned.