Many years ago, there was an old man that owned a horse. That horse was his only source of livelihood. One day that horse ran away, and the old man became poor. The people of his town came to comfort him, but the old man replied to them, “Who says this is bad? Perhaps it is for the good.”
The people of the town thought the man was in shock, because how could losing all your wealth be good? Meanwhile, the horse had ran away to the forest where it met other horses, when the old man’s horse became it hungry it returned to its barn with his four new friends. Now the old man became wealthy!
Indeed, something good had happened to the old man, so the village came to congratulate him. But, to their surprise the old man says, “Who says, who says this is for the good?”
Now, the town thought the old man had to be crazy. The man just became rich, why was he not celebrating?
Soon after, the man’s young son went for a ride on one of the horses. He fell off the horse and broke both of his legs. Again, the townsfolk visited the family and their poor son. “Who says? Who says this is for the bad? Perhaps this is for the good!”
Two weeks later the Russian Czar ordered all young boys to the army. When the soldiers came to get this man’s son they saw the boy laying in bed with many bandages. They decided the boy was unfit for the army, and they let him stay home!
As the weeks past, the townspeople received word that many of their children had been killed in war, and they saw that old man was correct in his saying, “Perhaps this is for the good.”
In this world we cannot see everything. We do not know what is ultimately good for us. As it says in Tehillim, “Cast your burden on to Hashem, and He will sustain you (55:23).” With this attitude of humility and total faith we should all merit to see the arrival Mashiach!
Reprinted from the Parashat Beshalach 5785 email of Jack E. Rahmey based on the Torah teachings of Rabbi Amram Sananes.
