Gemara: [The gemara tells how Rav Huna was punished for a mildly improper business dealing, when 400 barrels of his wine turned into vinegar. After he repented and rectified the situation, he was rewarded.] “There are those who say that the vinegar returned to being wine. There are those who say that the price of vinegar rose to be the same as the price of wine.”
Ein Ayah: It is simple that Hashem does not perform miracles without a need because Hashem wants nature to continue to operate. Therefore when there is a need for a miracle on behalf of one who fears Hashem, it is best if the miracle can be kept as small as possible. [The two opinions in the gemara] differ how it is best to limit the miracle. Is it better to reduce the miracle qualitatively even though that will cause a need to increase it quantitatively, or is it preferable to reduce it quantitatively in a manner that it will have to be increased qualitatively?
Certainly [of the two possibilities raised in the gemara] returning the vinegar to wine is a qualitatively greater miracle, as it is not at all within the framework of nature. However, it is small in quantitative scope as it does not extend beyond the righteous man’s 400 barrels of vinegar in question. In contrast, the rise in the price of vinegar to that of wine is a qualitatively small miracle, as it follows the path of nature. However, it is a big miracle quantitatively as it had to spread to many matters until the price of vinegar becomes as that of wine. The second opinion believed that it is better to limit the miracle qualitatively even though it makes the miracle greater as far as quantity is concerned.
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