It will happen very soon: Moshiach will come, the Beis Hamikdash will be rebuilt, and Am Yisrael will be revealed in all its glory.
From that very moment, not only will we know, “You chose us from among all the nations...and raised us above all the languages,” but all the nations of the world will see that Hashem’s Name is called upon us. The esteem that Am Yisrael will possess in future times is indescribable.
This is something we are not capable of imagining. Midrashei Chazal are filled with descriptions of glory and magnificence. How majestic the sight will be when Hakadosh Baruch Hu will make a circle for tzaddikim, and each one will point with his finger and say, “This is Hashem, for Whom we waited and hoped!” We didn’t despair, we didn’t get confused, we weren’t tempted, and we were not thrown off by all the persecutions and nisyonos! We waited, we hoped, we anticipated, we davened, we pushed ourselves, we insisted, we occupied ourselves in Torah, and we did Hashem’s mitzvos with dedication and loyalty. How fortunate is the one who sees the fulfillment of his anticipation!
The nations of the world will stand on the side, and their eyes will show longing. Now that the truth in all its glory has emerged for all to see, they understand, but too late, that all those who caused Am Yisrael pain are going to receive punishment, and all those who helped Am Yisrael busy themselves with Torah will receive their reward.
The members of the nations will come forth with the same hypocrisy they displayed in the past: They will ask for their reward. The nations will come one after another — Rome, Persia, and so many more, and each nation will justify itself and claim that they did much good for Am Yisrael.
Hashem will ask the Roman Empire: What did you do? And they will say: Ribbono shel Olam! We built many marketplaces and bathhouses and made much gold and silver — and we did it all for Am Yisrael, so they could be busy with Torah!
Hakadosh Baruch Hu will answer them: Fools! Everything you did, you did for you own needs! You built marketplaces in order to cause people to sin there, and bathhouses in order to pamper yourselves. Silver and gold – belong to Me, as it says (Chagai 2:8), “Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold.”
When we think about the answer Hashem will give the Romans, we see that regarding the actions that they did with their money, there is room for negotiation. The Romans chose to do certain acts, and for their choices they get what they deserved. They claimed that they did this for the Yidden, and Hashem proves to them that the opposite is true. They could try to present themselves as having done it for our good, but on the great day of judgment, the entire truth is revealed.
In contrast, when they say, “We made much gold and silver,” there is no negotiation at all. The answer is: This has nothing to do with you! You thought you were making money? Nonsense! A severe error! Never did anything like this happen. You did not make gold and silver. Gold and silver belong to Hashem! “Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold.” Rashi explains there that “It is in My power to give it to whomever I want.”
Radak in his explanation adds an important point: “In the hands of whomever it is — it is Mine.” Even when a person puts his money in the attic, hides it under the mattress, or deposits it in a secret bank account, the money belongs to Hashem.
How much nachas and serenity this knowledge gives us! How much wealth and joy it encompasses! How much pressure and stress it removes! Why spend days and nights in worry and terror?
There are many people who worry about how they could make money, and there are others who are fearful of whether their money will be used up. Both of them can relax. We are the children of Hashem, Who owns all the gold and silver in the world.
Regarding the “tax” placed on humanity – “By the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread” – it is our obligation to do hishtadlus, and we have learned about the way in which a person should do hishtadlus: by working in a way that suits his nature and that is permitted according to the Shulchan Aruch.
But to be pressured? To worry? To get involved in difficult work that is beyond one’s kochos? There is no reason for that. The amount of money coming our way is according to Hashem’s decree. “Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold” is a principle that always applies, at all times and for all people.
May we be zocheh to an abundance of shefa, in order to bring honor and nachas to Hashem!
