The Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, explores this very idea through a verse from Job: "Who preceded Me, that I should repay? Everything under heaven is Mine" (Job 41:3). It's a powerful question, isn't it? Who could possibly give something to God that God doesn't already possess?
Rabbi Tanchum ben Rabbi Abba offers a beautiful interpretation: He says that the verse refers to someone who does good deeds despite lacking resources. Someone who doesn't have much money but still gives to charity. Someone who has no children but still supports Torah teachers. Someone who can barely afford a home but still puts up a mezuza (a parchment scroll with verses from the Torah inscribed on it, traditionally affixed to doorframes). Someone who can't afford new clothes but still makes sure to wear tzitzit (ritual fringes). In essence, someone who makes an effort to fulfill mitzvot (commandments) even before they feel ready.
The Holy One, blessed be He, sees this and says, "This one preceded Me! They fulfilled My mitzvot before I even provided them with the means!" And the promise is that God will repay, providing them with the resources they need, like money or children who will continue their good work. Because, ultimately, everything belongs to God anyway.
But the Bamidbar Rabbah doesn't stop there. It goes on to say that this verse also applies to Abraham. Abraham recognized the Holy One on his own, without any prior teaching or guidance. As (Proverbs 14:14) says, "A wayward heart will be sated from its ways, but a good man will be above him." Rabbi Abba bar Kahana explains that the "wayward heart" is one full of impurities and destined to remain earthbound. But the "good man," like Abraham, rises to spiritual heights.
Abraham is presented as one of four people who recognized the Holy One on their own. The others were Job, Hezekiah, and the Messianic king. Abraham recognized God and made His name known in the world, and in return, God promised him both this world and the world to come, as it says, "Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High, Master of heaven and earth" (Genesis 14:19).
Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Ḥiyya takes this idea a step further, suggesting that everything Abraham did for the angels who visited him was repaid to his descendants during the Exodus from Egypt and will be repaid again in the future. Remember when Abraham offered the angels water to wash their feet and rest under a tree (Genesis 18:4)? The Bamidbar Rabbah sees echoes of this in God providing water for the Israelites in the desert (Exodus 17:6) and promising a land of flowing water in the future (Deuteronomy 8:7, (Isaiah 30:25), (Isaiah 41:1)8). The hospitality Abraham showed by offering shelter is mirrored in God sheltering the Israelites in booths (sukkot) during their journey (Leviticus 23:43) and promising future protection (Isaiah 4:6).
The text also connects this idea to Joseph, who, according to Rabbi Yoḥanan, observed the Shabbat (the Sabbath) even before the Torah was given. When Joseph told his servants to "Slaughter an animal and prepare it" (Genesis 43:16), it was the day before Shabbat, and "prepare" meant preparing for the holy day. Because Joseph honored the Shabbat before it was commanded, God promised that his descendant, the prince of the tribe of Ephraim, would have his offering readily accepted on Shabbat, even though individual offerings weren't usually made on that day.
So, what's the takeaway here? It seems to be this: that our actions, especially those done with intention and generosity, have a ripple effect. When we act with kindness and faith, even when it's difficult or inconvenient, we're not just fulfilling a commandment – we're setting in motion a chain of blessings that will extend far beyond ourselves, impacting our descendants and the world around us. It reminds us that even the smallest acts of goodness can have profound and lasting consequences. As (Ecclesiastes 11:1) says, "Cast your bread upon the water, for after many days you will find it."
“On the seventh day…” – that is what is written: “Who preceded Me? I will pay…” (Job 41:3). Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Abba said: One who has no property but performs acts of charity and kindness; one who has no children but pays the wages of Bible teachers and Mishna teachers; one who does not have a house but prepares a mezuza , one who has no garment but prepares ritual fringes; one who has no sons but circumcises; one who prepares books and lends them to others, the Holy One blessed be He says: This one preceded and fulfilled My mitzvot before I provided him with the means to fulfill them; I must pay, give him money and children who will read these books. That is, “Who preceded Me” – to perform a mitzva; and I will pay his reward. Why? It is because I lack nothing, as the world and all its contents are Mine. That is why it is stated: “Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3). Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own, just as it is written: “A wayward [sug] heart will be sated from its ways…” (Proverbs 14:14).What is, “a wayward heart will be sated from its ways”? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It is a heart that is filled with dross [sigim]; it is destined to be sated because of its ways.15It will not rise to spiritual heights. “But a good man will be above him”16And will rise to spiritual heights. (Proverbs 14:14) – this is Abraham, who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. There was no person who taught him how to recognize the Holy One blessed be He; rather he did so on his own. This is one of four people who recognized the Holy One blessed be He on their own. Job recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it says: “From my practice I treasured the sayings of His mouth” (Job 23:12). Hezekiah king of Judah, too, recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own; from where is it derived? It is as it is written in his regard: “He will eat butter and honey, by his knowledge, spurning the bad and choosing the good” (Isaiah 7:15). The messianic king recognized the Holy One blessed be He on his own. Likewise, Abraham, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The upper world and the world below are Mine,’ just as it says: “Everything beneath the heavens is Mine” (Job 41:3), and it says: “The earth and all its contents are the Lord’s” (Psalms 24:1). ‘You caused My name to be known in the world; as you live, I will grant you the upper world and the world below, as it is stated: “He blessed him, and he said: Blessed is Abram to God, the Most High, Master of heaven and earth” (Genesis 14:19). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” Why? It is because “everything beneath the heavens is Mine.” Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Everything that Abraham performed for the ministering angels, the Holy One blessed be He repaid his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt, and He is destined to give them in the future. You find regarding Abraham: “Please, let a little water be taken” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be He, too, repaid his descendants: “I will take you for Me” (Exodus 6:7) – corresponding to “Please, let [a little water] be taken.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: I have derived only regarding this world, regarding the future, from where is it derived? “The peoples will take them and bring them to their place” (Isaiah 14:2). Regarding Abraham it is written: “A little water,” and the Holy One blessed be He provided water for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “You shall strike the rock, and water will emerge from it” (Exodus 17:6). Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “For the Lord your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of streams of water…” (Deuteronomy 8:7). Regarding the Messianic Era, from where is it derived? “There will be pools and streams of water on every lofty mountain and on every high hill” (Isaiah 30:25). Likewise, “I will open rivers on the bare hills” (Isaiah 41:18). Regarding Abraham it is written: “Wash your feet” (Genesis 18:4). The Holy One blessed be He granted it to his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “I washed you in water” (Ezekiel 16:9). And in the Land of Israel: “Wash, purify yourselves” (Isaiah 1:16). Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “When the Lord will have washed [the excrement of the daughters of Zion]” (Isaiah 4:4). Regarding Abraham it is written: “And recline beneath the tree” (Genesis 18:4), as he crafted a booth [sukka] for them. The Holy One blessed be He crafted booths for his descendants upon their exodus from Egypt: “That I had the children of Israel dwell in booths [basukot], [when I took them out of the land of Egypt]” (Leviticus 23:43). In the Land of Israel: “You shielded [sakota] my head on the day of battle” (Psalms 140:8). What is “the day of battle? It is the day of the arming of the thirty-one kings. Regarding the future, from where is it derived? “And a booth [sukka] will be for shade in the day…” (Isaiah 4:6). That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay…”(Job 41:3). Likewise it says: “Cast your bread upon the water, for after many days [you will find it]” (Ecclesiastes 11:1). Another matter: “Who preceded Me? I will pay” (Job 41:3) – it is speaking of Joseph, as he preceded and observed the Shabbat before it was given: “Slaughter an animal and prepare it” (Genesis 43:16). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It was the day before Shabbat. “And prepare” is nothing other than for Shabbat, as it is stated: “It will be on the sixth day, they shall prepare…” (Exodus 16:5). The Holy One blessed be He said: Joseph, you observed the Shabbat before the Torah was given, as you live, your descendant will present his offering on Shabbat, when an individual does not present an offering. But it is incumbent upon Me to readily accept his offering. That is, “who preceded Me? I will pay.” From where is it derived that this is so? It is from what is stated regarding this matter: “On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim…”
