Trust Me Really Part 3

Thus, at the same time that the governor entered the bathhouse in high spirits, Nakdimon Ben Gurion entered the Bait HaMikdosh, stood in prayer, and said,

 

“Master of the World, it is known and revealed before You that I did not make this effort for my own honor, nor for the honor of my father’s house, but only for Your honor, so that there should be water for the Olei Regel.” (Ibid.)

 

This, of course, is a very important element of the entire story. As the Midrash teaches, miracles can happen for anyone. However, when they do happen for you, you want to know that they have occurred without cost, either in this world or the next one. To ensure that, you have to be L’Shem Shamayim — requesting the miracle for some higher purpose, even if you will benefit from it as well.

 

Nakdimon’s prayer was answered immediately, as the skies darkened and filled with clouds and rain poured down. It came down heavily, filling all of the Roman’s cisterns to overflowing. It even washed down all of the caked mud that had been accumulated by the cisterns in the dry years and left them clean — even though it was Pesach, when rain does not usually fall in Eretz Yisroel. Relief.

 

The tables turned, as soon as the governor entered the bathhouse he noticed the raindrops on the window and rushed outside quickly, even before bathing. He quickly found Nakdimon in order to tell him that he had not fulfilled his part of the bargain since the sun had already set on the agreed upon day and it was, therefore, too late. Miracle or no miracle, a deal was a deal.

 

However, when they met, Nakdimon spoke first:

 

“Pay me for the extra water! I gave you back more than I took; the cisterns were not filled to the top and now they are. You owe me now. I also did you another favor, because when a cistern overflows from strong, gushing rain, it flushes the bad water out and keeps the good water in. Not only was the sediment at the bottom flushed out, but the caked mud on the sides was also cleaned away. In addition, the force of the water actually increased the size of the cisterns so that now they can hold more water than before! This would not have happened with a regular, mild rainfall. It happened because of the strong, miraculous downpour. This is a supernatural rain, and it came because of my prayers”, said Nakdimon told the Roman governor. “The surplus water certainly belongs to me and you must pay me for it.” (Ibid.)

 

However, the Talmud recounts, the story was not over yet. Indeed, a bigger miracle was yet in store, perhaps the reason for the drought in the first place.

 

“I agree that the rain that fell was miraculous, and that your God changed the pattern of the world for your sake. But that does not mean that I owe you money. On the contrary, you still owe me the money … the full amount that we originally agreed upon … The cisterns may have filled with rainwater, and I am truly grateful for that, but the sun has already set. Thus, the water that filled the cisterns is mine, and you have no claim to it. You still owe me the money, because at the end of the day they were empty.” (Ibid.)

 

A deal may be a deal, but a miracle is also a miracle, and bitachon is bitachon. So, unfazed, though the two of them stood there under a dark, overcast sky, Nakdimon turned around and went back to the Bait HaMikdash, put on his tallit, and again prayed to God.

 

“Master of the World, I plead before You. If You deem that I must pay then I will pay, for this is what we agreed upon and I will keep my part of the bargain if I must. However, when I first stated the price I did so in my trust that You would intervene favorably for Your children who come by foot to visit Your House, and do so joyfully out of their love for You … Therefore, I plead with You: Show that there are those who love You in this world. Let everyone see that You are pleased that they make the journey … I know that the rain fell because You love me and Your people, but I beg You, just as You performed a miracle for me the first time, please perform one now as well. This second miracle will be much more prominent and obvious.” (Ibid.)

 

At so it was, just as Nakdimon had said: as Nakdimon prayed, the wind blew and dispersed the clouds, revealing the sun. Thus, everyone was able to see clearly that the rain had fallen in advance of the deadline for repayment. Defeated, the governor nevertheless stated for the record:

 

   

 

“Even though we were unable to see the sun set because of the heavy clouds, according to my calculations it should have set at that time. I cannot explain it, but neither can I argue with the facts for I can see the sun with my own eyes. But, you must admit, had not the sun shone and illuminated the sky in the manner that it does every day before it sets, I would have been able to extract your money from you." (Ibid.)

 

A truly remarkable story. And, it is one that can elicit one of three possible reactions from the reader: disbelief altogether,  or belief, but only that such miracles happen on occasion, and for very special people, such Nakdimon Ben Gurion, or Chanina Ben Dosa, or for Choni HaMagel, but not for the average person.

 

Or, there is one more option …

 

To be continued

 

  

(Author, lecturer, and scholar Rabbi Pinchas Winston is the director of ThirtySix.org. His book Be Positive is available for purchase online)