We find in the beginning of the Parsha that G-d was angry at Moshe for complaining that Pharaoh imposed harsh rules on the Jews because of Moshe’s demand to “let my people go”. He complained to G-d “You sent me and the Israelites now have to find their own straw”.
Why indeed did G-d send Moshe if it only made things worse? Even more odd is G-d’s response after Moshe describes the cruelty of Pharaoh. We find at the end of last week’s Parsha, Shemot, that G-d responded “now I will show Pharaoh”. Why was it that after Moshe’s return did G-d respond with such a vengeance?
There is a Gemara that describes a puzzling incident in which a man who was the town digger of wells, which was vital to the existence of the town, was informed that his daughter fell into one of the wells he had dug.
The news quickly traveled to the leading Rabbi of the generation, Rav Chanina, who happened to live in that town. Rav Chaninna said “nothing will happen to the girl, for a man who does such tremendous chessed will not have a tragedy occur in the same place the goodness occurs” (i.e. the well). A little while later, the girl was saved unharmed.
The Gemara continues: “a while after that incident, another similar occurrence happened to the same man. His son fell into a well which he had dug. However, this time the result was tragic. The boy died”.
The Gemarah immediately asks ” What about the merit of the father digging the well? Didn’t Rav Chanina proclaim that nothing bad will happen to this man since from his act the town is being sustained?”
The Sages answer that Rav Chanina was not alive anymore and so he was not able to make that proclamation again. It seems like the only way the EMET, the true goodness justice will prevail is if a Talmid Chacham gives the Bracha to “seal the deal”.
Hey! What about justice?!
There are a lot of MALACHIM and MEKATREGIM (bad angels) that intercept the good deeds that protect us in this world. (Olam habah is a different story, it’s an Olam Ha’emet and one gets what he deserves). Rav Chanina had already passed away and could not proclaim and defend justice and preserve the kindness of the man and save his boy.
When Moshe came back and complained to G-d about Pharaoh’s wickedness, G-d responded, AHH!! Now I will act.!!! Since Moshe was a great person, a Tzadic, his word carried weight.
When one gets married or when other good things happen to him or perhaps even not such good occurrences happen, he should get a bracha from a Tzadic, because no matter how righteous your actions are, a Tzadic can carry it out and fulfill it unharmed with his bracha.
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