"The Way of G-d"

Part 2: “Divine Providence”
Chapter 3: “Personal Providence”

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All that we've said till now about why some people suffer while others do well can be reduced to two principles. The first is that Divine Justice always holds sway, and that G-d takes absolutely everything into account in the great mix that is our life-situation. Hence, some people must endure pain and sorrow for the various reasons cited.

The second principle, though, is based on the way the world functions -- on the fact that our sins *manifestly* affect our beings, body and soul, as well as the world at large.

We'd explain it thusly. In a certain sense, sins are like terrible and formidable germs. Once within our beings, they tend to spread, fester, and to eat away at our well-being. Now, that eating-away process is termed G-d's "concealing Himself" from us (and the world at large). Our sins bring that on as routinely and naturally as rain, whether we know it and sense it or not. And thus our sins and the subsequent concealment of G-d's presence are very often responsible for our suffering.

Thus we can be said to bring on our own pain and sorrow much the way smokers, overeaters, and alcoholics bring on their own. And to conceal G-d's presence in the process.

But there are two ways to eradicate that "germ". By either regretting the wrong we'd done and drawing close to G-d again (i.e., by engaging in "teshuva"). Or by suffering, surprisingly enough. Since both act as catharses.

Hence, some people suffer as a consequence of their sins. But *also* in order to assuage their sin and to cure their diseased spirit, all for their own good. They also allow for G-d's presence to be revealed again in the process.

And the select, holy few we spoke of last time sometimes suffer in order to manifest G-d's presence even more so.

This series is dedicated to the memory of Yitzchak Hehrsh ben Daniel, and Sarah Rivka bas Yaakov Dovid.

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