Natural Reward and Punishment in This World Reward and Punishment in the World to Come Natural Order Required for Free Will Free Will Faith Revealed Through the Exodus and Mount Sinai Contemporary Idolatry Prohibited Magic and Sorcery Attitudes towards Different Religions The Righteous Among the Nations Christianity and Islam Prohibition of Idolatry Integrating the First Two Commandments Were idols effective? Faith and the Tendency Towards Idolatry The Giving of the Torah Love and Reverence of God
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Providence for the Individual

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Providence for the Individual

Within the natural order hides a divine providence that was established to direct every person specifically to where they belong. Generally, this results in rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked. However, the way providence plays out is complex, and faces challenges that sometimes result in the suffering of the righteous and success of the wicked. While this intensifies our dilemma it preserves free will. The righteous who accept this strengthen their faith and ultimately acquire more blessing, while the wicked are confused by this and continue in their evil ways and are punished.

Seemingly this presents a difficulty, for the Torah explains in detail that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked in this world. Why do we see good people suffer and evil people prosper? Rather that the reward and punishment in this world described by the Torah is for the Jewish people as a collective, and not for each and every individual.

Reward and Punishment for the Jews in this World Reward and Punishment for the Jews in this World The Status of Exile God’s Covenant with the Jews The Sins of the Golden Calf and the Spies