Iyov 37

Read the text of Iyov 37

Transcription

Welcome to NachDaily with Iyov, Perek 37. This is the end of Elihu’s explanation of Tzaddik v’ra lo and Rasha v’tov lo and his rebuke to Iyov and his friends.

It should be noted that Elihu has taken a middle path to the topic of reward and punishment. On one hand, he agrees with Iyov’s friends that Hashem intervenes with the world and there is Hashgacha pratis, but he disagrees with the fact that Iyov is being punished for his sins. Elihu introduced the idea of a nisayon, Hashem testing people to reveal what’s in their hearts to bring them to a higher level. This ensures that they don’t remain stagnant.

Elihu completely disagrees with Iyov on the topic of free will and Divine providence. Iyov held that Hashem left the world, and that we ultimately don’t have free will. Elihu asserts that in a certain sense God is beyond this world, there is nothing we can do to take away or add to Him, but reward and punishment still exist. God still cares about His creations and wants us to serve Him on our level.

The previous perek ended with Elihu beginning to explain how God uses the weather in order to punish or reward us. Indeed, God does interact with this world and there is schar v’onesh, reward and punishment.

This perek is a continuation of the last one and continues with the theme of how God uses the weather to reward and punish people.

In verses 1 through 13, Elihu continues to relate that God’s thunderstorms are awe inspiring. Hashem manipulates the weather to reward and punish. Just the sound of thunder and lightning is enough to make our hearts tremble, as if Hashem is roaring and showing His Might.

Verse 13 says, “Im l’sheivet im l’artso im l’chessed yamtsi’eihu – He brings it into being, whether as a rod, or for His land, or as an act of lovingkindness.” Rashi and the Ramban both explain that rain is used as a “rod” to punish people by bringing it when it’s not needed. Hashem can create a flood, hurricane, monsoon, or tornado to bring destruction upon people, or give rain in the proper amount to allow bracha to flourish as an act of lovingkindness.

In verse 14 Elihu explains the limitations of human knowledge. He rebukes Iyov for trying to figure out how exactly God uses these forces throughout His Hashgacha. He says “Ha’azina zos Iyov amod v’hisbonen nifl’os El – Listen to this, Iyov! Stop and contemplate the wonders of God.” Elihu questions Iyov in a rhetorical manner, “Do you know how God runs the world? “He who is Perfect in

Knowledge” (verse 16). Has man ever done anything to affect God? Is anything hidden before Him?

The perek ends with verses 23 and 24 “The Almighty is great in power and justice and does much righteousness. He does not torment.” Although we can’t understand God, we know He is good!

Rebbe Nachman explains in Sichos Haran, lesson 3: “Tachlis hay’diya asher lo neida – the main purpose of knowledge is to know that we don’t know.” Even when we reach the level of understanding, we truly don’t know. There are many levels way beyond us of whose existence we are completely unaware. On every level a person can attain knowing that we don’t know. And even when we reach the level of knowing that we don’t know, we haven’t even begun to fathom how much we really don’t understand.

Hashem’s ways are so big and vast. Whatever recognition or insight we’ve gained into Hashem’s providence is ultimately nothing in comparison to what’s possible. God is way beyond human rational understanding.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily when we will learn from Hashem why He tested Iyov, and wind down the sefer.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day!