On Shavuos we read Megillas Rus. We see the total dedication Rus had for her mother-in-law, Naomi and Judaism. When they returned to Israel the Torah says:
| And they both went on until they arrived to Bethlehem. And it came to pass when they arrived to Bethlehem, that the entire city was astir on their account, and they said, “Is this Naomi?” | יטוַתֵּלַ֣כְנָה שְׁתֵּיהֶ֔ם עַד־בּוֹאָ֖נָה בֵּ֣ית לָ֑חֶם וַיְהִ֗י כְּבוֹאָ֨נָה֙ בֵּ֣ית לֶ֔חֶם וַתֵּהֹ֤ם כָּל־הָעִיר֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ן וַתֹּאמַ֖רְנָה הֲזֹ֥את נָֽעֳמִֽי: | |
| Rashi on the pasuk points out: “that the entire city was astir: The entire city became astir. They had gathered to bury Boaz’s wife, who had died on that very day.” The Sifsei Chachamim at the end of this Rashi references, “And in Masecehes Bava Basra Rashi explains that this pasuk is coming to teach us that Hashem creates the medication before the ailment, and a person should trust in Hashem.” | וַתֵּהֹם כָּל הָעִיר: נַעֲשֵׂית הוֹמִיָּה כָל הָעִיר. כֻּלָּם נִתְקַבְּצוּ לִקְבֹּר אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל בֹּעַז שֶׁמֵּתָה בּוֹ בַיּוֹם: |
The Gemara in Bava Basra 91a referenced says:
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם שֶׁבָּאת רוּת הַמּוֹאֲבִיָּה לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל בֹּעַז וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי עַד דְּלָא שָׁכֵיב שִׁיכְבָא קָיְימָא מְנוּ בַיְיתֵיהּ
And Rabbi Yitzḥak also says with regard to this passage: That very day when Rus the Moabite came to Eretz Yisrael, the wife of Boaz died, i.e., from the moment of their arrival the possibility was created for Ruth’s eventual marriage to Boaz. This explains the adage that people say: Before the deceased dies, the person who will next be in charge of his house arises, as in this case Boaz’s new wife, Ruth, arrived as his previous wife died. (Click here for Gemara text.)
Rus just happened to have come with Naomi into Bethlehem the same day as Boaz’s wife passed away and she was being buried. This was no coincidence. Rashi in Bava basra points out that we learn from this juncture that Hashem brings the medication before the ailment, and one should always have trust in Hashem. For we see in this case that before Boaz’s wife passed away, the one who was appointed and ready to take over her household was arriving to take her place (for Rus eventually married Boaz later in the megillah).
The obvious question is why does Rashi seem to say that only because Hashem provides the means to heal before the problem arises should a person have trust in Hashem? Shouldn’t a person always have trust in the All Mighty, All Powerful, All Merciful G-D who can do anything at any time and any place without anyone or anything stopping Him? One should have trust in Hashem whether He creates the medication before the ailment or whether the source of healing comes about only after the problem arises. Either way, we should trust in Hashem that Hashem is only out for our good and will do the best for us?!
It would seem that if Hashem would not have set up this system in which He guarantees the solution comes before the problem, then a person might have a valid excuse to not have proper bitachon, faith in Hashem, because the predicament that he or she is facing might be too overwhelming, making it extremely difficult to trust that Hashem will work things out for the best. However, Hashem in His ultimate mercy and graciousness set up a system to give no excuse to not believe in Him. The fact that Hashem guarantees the solution is already out there even before the problem arises should be a comfort to one who is suffering, as long as they choose to trust in it.
Good Shabbos and yom tov,
Rabbi Dovid Shmuel Milder