“You are crossing theJordan today … to inherit many great nations … children of giants.”

(Devarim 9:1–2)

Why did Hashem allow giants to settle Eretz Yisrael with fortified cities? Since the time of Creation Eretz Yisrael was designated for Bnei Yisrael. Although nations were permitted to settle there until Bnei Yisrael reclaimed the Land they were simply like servants protecting the prince’s kingdom until he matured and inherited it. Therefore wouldn’t it have been preferable for Hashem to place weak nations in the Land so that Bnei Yisrael could conquer them easily?

The answer to this query lies in the blessing: “Borei nefashos rabbos v’chesronam — Who creates many souls and their shortcomings.” (Midrash Rabba 3:1)

This is the brachah recited after drinking and after eating foods over which we say shehakol etc. One may wonder why are we thanking Hashem for creating shortcomings?

Hashem performs a great act of kindness by quenching our thirst. Yet He created thirst in the first place. If man would have been created complete then he would never be thirsty or require water. So what’s the chesed of Hashem quenching a thirst that He created? (Chasam Sofer Toras Moshe cited by Lekach Tov)

We were driving down the road en route to the moshav where we’d be spending our vacation. The kids were bouncing and singing in the back and the van was packed to capacity. Suddenly without warning we found ourselves in the middle of a hostile Arab village with vile-looking teenagers circling our car their eyes shooting daggers. And we were on a dead-end street!

This is how we’re going to die my brain froze. We’ll be the next media story.

“Hashem help!” we cried soundlessly. “Help us get out of here alive! We want to live! We want to see tomorrow!”

“We’ll get rid of the computer! I’ll give 500 shekels to tzedakah! A thousand! Just get us out of here!”

Somebody shouted in Arabic. A chador-clad woman began advancing toward us.

“Please Hashem! We don’t want to die!”

Suddenly one of the teens pointed with his finger and spoke in broken Hebrew. “Make a right to exit!”

My husband made a U-turn praying that we weren’t driving straight into a trap. Thankfully within moments we were safely back on the highway.

We got out of there alive. It was a miracle. There was no other explanation for our escape. Hashem saved us.

But … a little voice piped up in my mind. How did we get into the village in the first place? Was it not Hashem that made us miss the sign and drive straight into an Area C zone? The same Hand of Hashem that redeemed us was the same One that thrust us into the cauldron. Maybe it would’ve been better if we’d never gotten into the mess in the first place and continued obliviously down the road toward our vacation.

When we scrutinize man we find that what appears as a shortcoming is really the ideal situation constructed out of Hashem’s goodness. Hashem introduces a feeling of thirst into man so that he can recognize how desperately he requires his Master. Once he has quenched his thirst he thanks his Master and thus attains his ultimate purpose in both worlds. Man’s shortcomings benefit him more than perfection would. (ibid.)

It was a terrifying experience — to have death stare us in the face. But at the same time we stood on the spiritual summit of recognizing our total dependency on Hashem an infinite closeness that cannot be encapsulated in words. For those few moments we were privy to a lofty world where there’s nothing but Hashem. We cried out to our Father and He protected us.

Thus we understand the blessing: “Who creates many souls and their shortcomings.” First we thank Hashem for instilling these shortcomings through which we recognize Him. Then we add our thanks for the means through which He grants us the ability to rectify these failings. And we conclude: “Baruch Chei ha’olamim.” With these strengths we merit both worlds.

This explains the challenge that Hashem established for Yisrael on entering Eretz Yisrael. In His ultimate kindness He stationed giants there so Bnei Yisrael would recognize His salvation and not believe that it was their strength that brought success.

Only someone who has escaped harm knows to thank Hashem for His daily protection.