In the Torah God tells us “Do not think it is your own greatness that will bring Moshiach rather my love for your forefathers;” a similar sentiment is echoed that “Do not think it is your greatness and the merit of your goodness that earned you Israel, rather the evil perpetuated by the people of the land.”

Everything in Judaism is actually a “Avodah,” inspirational message meant to refine us.

In fact everything that happens in the world is, but how much infinitely more so that which is written in the Bible itself.

The message is simple:

When we delude ourselves that it is our justice that earns us material benefit we feel entitled, hence arrogant and as we mentioned yesterday the entire gratitude for our gifts gets lost.

Rather we must see – which is the truth – reality is a sequence, there are times of exodus and times of exile, good times and bad times and hence when we live in good times we should not think it is our brains, wealth or even goodness that caused it. Rather it is God’s.