We all have bumps in the road. Times when we’re stuck in a bad place, and we feel hopeless.
We daven, but only half believe our own tefillos, unfortunately.
But then it happens... things turn around and we see the situation clear up entirely! When will we learn our lesson completely?
Everything is for the good! Hashem loves us and won’t let us down.
It’s a tale from a different world, but it illustrates this point perfectly.
The King had a trusted Jewish confidante. Out on a hunting trip together he helped the King set up his gun, but something went wrong and the mistake caused the shotgun to remove half of the King's thumb.
He pleaded with the king. It’s all for the good your majesty, but nevertheless he was condemned to prison for this offense.
The next time the King was able to go out shooting (after a long period of recovery). He went alone. Venturing through parts unchartered, he was captured by a cannibalistic tribe. They prepared to devour their new capture, when the Chief of the tribe noticed a half of a thumb on the king.
“We cannot consume a man who is blemished like that. Only a whole person will grace our ceremony – and they let the king go!
Feeling remorse, the king ran back to his friend languishing in prison and told him what had transpired.
“I told you sir that all was for the good!” said the king’s friend.
The King now saw the light, but asked his longtime friend “How was your time suffering under terrible conditions in our prison for the good?”
“Why sir, if I was with you, they would have eaten me alive!”
The Aron, which represents purity and holiness, was covered by gold on each side with wood in the middle. Our Rabbis suggest that this means we go through good times (gold) and then through less fortunate periods (wood) – but then providence brings us back to the gold again – for that is the ratzon, the will of Hashem!
Life is truly all for the good!
Written by R’ Avrohom Hillel Reich based on a lesson and story by Harav Ben Tziyon Sneh Shlita
