There was once a king who brought in
foreign advisors to oversee a special building project in the palace. As soon as
they entered the royal town one of the advisors took sick. In fact, he did not
recover from his illness until the project was completed. When the time came for
them to return home the gracious king instructed his treasurer to pay both of
the advisors their full wages.
Before they took their leave from the
royal city, both advisors issued special letters that expressed their profound
thanks to the king. The king then instructed that one thousand gold coins be
paid to the advisor who performed the task, whereas he did not grant any
additional benefit, whatsoever, to the advisor who took sick.
The king’s
ministers assumed that the king granted special favor to the advisor who worked
because his praise was expressed more elegantly than the praise of his
compatriot. However the king said that it was just the opposite, "The letter of
the advisor who took sick was the more graceful of the two letters. Rather, the
reason that I did not allot a bonus to him was because I already granted him
much more than his due, for I paid him a full salary even though he did no work.
Therefore, he is obligated to thank me. Whereas there was no obligation on the
advisor to thank me for his well earned wages. Therefore it is fitting to reward
him for his praise and thanks."
Likewise, when HaShem performs open
miracles for Klal Yisrael they are obligated to thank him. Just as the payment
to the advisor, who was unable to work, was an obvious gesture of the king’s
compassion, so too, when the miracles defies nature, the goodness of HaShem is
clearly revealed.
However, when the goodness and deliverance of HaShem
is manifest through "natural causes", we are less obligated to thank HaShem,
just as the advisor who received his just wages, was not obligated to thank the
king. For instance, the rising of the sun each day has been ordained by HaShem
as a statute from the time He created Heaven and earth. Nevertheless, the
special quality of Klal Yisrael is that they recognize and thank and praise
HaShem for the constant goodness and mercy that He continuously bestows upon us
through natural means. In response to Klal Yisrael’s recognition and thanks to
HaShem for his "hidden loving kindness", HaShem grants abundant reward in this
world, as well as The World to Come.
TODAY: Feel the warmth of
sparkling sun - and express thanks to HaShem.
Important Numbers
