Everything G-d does is for the best

by HaRav Dov Begon
Rosh HaYeshiva, Machon Meir

“Sorah lived to be a hundred twenty-seven years old -- the years of the life of Sarah” (Bereisheet 23:1). Rashi expounds regarding the addition of “the years of the life of oarah” as follows: “This teaches us that all her years were equal in goodness.” Seemingly the life of the Matriarch Sarah was difficult, complicated, and full of suffering and trouble: Most of her life she was barren. She wandered from place to place, living in a tent, following her husband Abraham. She had entanglements with Hagar and Ishmael, who tormented her and her son Isaac. She was taken to Pharaoh’s house and to Avimelech’s house, and her only son was bound to the altar by Avraham as an offering.

How is it possible to say that Sorah’s whole life was good?

The answer is that Sorah had great, strong faith. Not only did she have faith in G-d’s existence, but she recognized and knew with clear certainty that everything G-d does is for the best, as in the words of R’ Akiva: “One should ever accustom himself to say, ‘Whatever G-d does, He does for the best ” (Berachot 60b; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 230:5).

With her good, strong faith, nothing could budge Sarah or alter her faith throughout her whole life. That is why all her years “were equal in goodness.” As in the words of R’ Yehuda HaLevi: “The patriarchs believed with such complete faith and with such a pure heart that even if they had suffered misfortune all their lives, their faith in G-d would not have been weakened” (Kuzari, Second Article).

The Jewish People are the direct continuation of the patriarchs and matriarchs. We have undergone thousands of years of troubles, suffering, and travail, and we still face a plethora of distress, difficulties, and complications, both as individuals and as a nation. Yet the faith of the patriarchs and matriarchs that G-d does everything for the best, that “all’s well that ends well,” is implanted in the heart of the nation as a group, and in the hearts of each and every Jew. We need only uncover that faith by following in the ways of our ancestors and by their light until the words of Malachi 3:24 are completely fulfilled: “He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.”

Looking forward to salvation.
With the Love of Israel,
Shabbat Shalom.