Beyond the Surface of Divine Justice

Why does God punish us? This question haunts both believers and skeptics alike. We’re taught that God is kind, loving, and compassionate, yet the Torah speaks of severe consequences for disobeying divine will.

This apparent contradiction comes to a head in this week’s Torah portion, where we encounter a harsh punishment that conceals a precious gift. Hidden within this mysterious paradox lies a profound truth about God’s relationship with His people – one that transforms not just how we understand divine justice, but how we approach discipline and education.

A Gift in Disguise

In this week’s Torah portion we learn that tzaraat, the spiritual malady, affects not only one’s body and clothing, but also the walls of one’s house. As we learned in Parshat Tazria, tzaraat primarily strikes those who speak lashon hara, derogatory speech, serving as a measure-for-measure consequence: just as the speaker created rifts between others, they now experience a carefully calibrated exile.

The progression moves from outside inward – first afflicting their house and forcing them to leave their home, then spreading to their clothes requiring them to abandon their wardrobe, and finally, if the behavior persists, afflicting their flesh itself. Then they must depart to the outskirts of the community, where they remain until they’ve corrected the mindset that led them to speak evil of others.

Yet within this harsh decree lies something extraordinary. The Torah uses striking language when introducing this house-afflicting punishment: “When you come into the Land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, I shall give you tzaraat upon a house in the land you possess.” Give you tzaraat? Since when is punishment described as a gift?

The Midrash¹ reveals: The Canaanites, hearing of Israel’s approach, hid their treasures within their walls. God’s “punishment” of tzaraat ensured the fulfillment of His promise to give us “houses filled with all good things”².

This revelation forces us to confront a deeper question: Why would God reward someone who sinned with hidden treasure?

The Father’s Way

According to the Ramchal, God’s entire purpose in creating the world was to bestow the greatest good upon us.³ Even punishment, surprisingly, is part of this master plan for good. How? Because inherent in God’s gift of free will is the capacity to err. And when we err, we turn away from the good that God has in store for us. In these moments, like a father correcting his child’s behavior, God delivers punishment to keep us on the right path. The Torah teaches this explicitly: “You shall know in your heart, that just as a man chastises his son, so does the Lord, your God, chastise you” (Devarim 8:5). By comparing our relationship with God to father and son, the Torah teaches that every divine correction, even when painful, comes from a place of deep love and desire for our growth.⁴

King Solomon teaches, “My son, despise not God’s discipline, and do not abhor His chastening, for God chastens the one He loves, as a father placates a son.”⁵ When we experience setbacks or challenges, our natural reaction is to see only the surface-level pain. But just as the owner of the tzaraas-afflicted house discovers treasure beneath the damaged walls, every divine correction contains hidden opportunity for growth and elevation.⁶

A Golden Opportunity

The Ohr HaChaim⁷ adds another profound layer to our understanding of the hidden treasure behind punishment. Beyond the physical riches that might have been hidden in the walls, he suggests that the true treasure lies in God’s method of correction itself – beginning with the house, then clothes, and only finally touching the person. This gradual progression represents the greatest gift possible: the opportunity for teshuva—for spiritual return. By starting with our external possessions and moving slowly inward, God provides multiple chances for us to recognize our missteps and correct our path.

The treasure, then, isn’t just the physical gold or even the process of spiritual growth – it’s the very opportunity that God gives us to return to Him before more severe consequences become necessary.⁸

The Art of Correction

This understanding transforms not only how we view divine punishment but how we approach education – both of ourselves and others. When we need to correct our own habits or our children’s behavior, we can model our approach after God’s loving method:

1. Start from the Outside – Like the progression of tzaraat, begin with gentle, external corrections before moving to more personal consequences. A subtle environmental change often proves more effective than immediate confrontation.
   1. For Self-Development: Place a siddur in a visible spot to encourage prayer rather than criticizing your lack of spiritual discipline.
   2. For Parenting: Create a dedicated, distraction-free study area before lecturing about homework habits.
2. Give Multiple Chances – God provides several warnings before the final consequence. Similarly, we should create a pathway of graduated responses that give ample opportunity for growth and change.
3. Keep the End Goal in Mind – Just as God’s ultimate purpose is to bestow good, every correction we give should aim toward growth and development; never mere punishment.

Remember: True education, like divine punishment, always comes from a place of love and always aims toward growth. When we approach correction with this mindset, we transform discipline into one of the greatest acts of love we can offer.

May we merit to emulate God’s loving guidance in all our relationships, especially with ourselves and those in our care.

Shabbat Shalom!
Avraham

1. Leviticus Rabbah 17:6
2. Deuteronomy 6:11
3. Ramchal – The Way of God 1:2:1
4. Why does God choose specifically tzaraas to reveal this profound principle about divine punishment? Perhaps because unlike most consequences for sin, tzaraas plays out in full view of the community. Everyone witnesses not only the affliction itself, but also the discovery of treasure within the destroyed walls. Through this public display, God teaches the entire nation a vital lesson about the true nature of His correction. Just as a wise parent sometimes uses one child’s discipline as a teaching moment for their siblings, God uses the tzaraas-afflicted house as a visible demonstration of how His punishments always contain hidden opportunities for growth.
5. Proverbs 3:11-12
6. The Ramchal elaborates in The Way of God 2:2:6, explaining that all punishment, both in this life and the afterlife, serves to cleanse the soul of spiritual imperfections created by sin. Only then can the soul fully enjoy the ultimate good, free of any impediments to receiving that divine blessing.
7. The great Rabbi and Kabbalist of 18th century Morocco
8. Ohr HaChaim on Leviticus 14:34

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