Jochanan could resist his curiosity no longer.  “Tell me,” said he to Elijah, “tell me the meaning of all these actions which I have witnessed.  To those who have treated us coldly thou hast uttered good wishes; to those who have been gracious to us thou hast made no suitable return.  Even though we must part, I pray thee explain to me the meaning of thy acts.”

“Listen,” said Elijah, “and learn to trust in God, even though thou canst not understand His ways.  We first entered the house of the poor man, who treated us so kindly.  Know that it had been decreed that on that very day his wife should die.  I prayed unto the Lord that the cow might prove a redemption for her; God granted my prayers, and the woman was preserved unto her husband.  The rich man, whom next we called up, treated us coldly, and I repaired his wall.  I repaired it without a new foundation, without digging to the old one.  Had he repaired it himself he would have dug, and thus discovered a treasure which lies there buried, but which is now forever lost to him.  To the members of the synagogue who were inhospitable I said, ‘May you all be presidents,’ and where many rule there can be no peace; but to the others I said, ’May you have but one president;’ with one leader no misunderstanding may arise.  Now, if thou seest the wicked prospering, be not envious; if thou seest the righteous in poverty and trouble, be not provoked or doubtful of God’s justice.  The Lord is righteous, His judgments all are true; His eyes note all mankind, and none can say, ‘What dost thou?’”

With these words Elijah disappeared, and Jochanan was left alone.

* * * * *

There was once a man who pledged his dearest faith to a maiden, beautiful and true.  For a time all passed pleasantly, and the maiden lived in happiness.  But then the man was called from her side, he left her; long she waited, but he did not return.  Friends pitied her and rivals mocked her; tauntingly they pointed at her, and said, “He has left thee; he will never come back.”  The maiden sought her chamber, and read in secret the letters which her lover had written to her, the letters in which he promised to be ever faithful, ever true.  Weeping she read them, but they brought comfort to her heart; she dried her eyes and doubted not.

A joyous day dawned for her; the man she loved returned, and when he learned that others had doubted and asked her how she had preserved her faith, she showed his letters to him, declaring her eternal trust.

Israel, in misery and captivity, was mocked by the nations; her hopes of redemption were made a laughing-stock; her sages scoffed at; her holy men derided.  Into her synagogues, into her schools went Israel; she read the letters which her God had written, and believed in the holy promises which they contained.

God will in time redeem her; and when He says:—­

“How could you alone be faithful of all the mocking nations?”