In this week’s parsha, we learn something surprising:
When Bnei Yisrael enter Eretz Yisrael, Hashem tells them that tzara’at will appear on the walls of their new houses.

It sounds like a punishment—but Chazal reveal a deeper story.

Rashi, quoting Vayikra Rabbah, explains that when the local nations heard Bnei Yisrael were coming, they hid their valuables in the walls of their homes.
So Hashem caused tzara’at to appear—forcing Bnei Yisrael to break the walls and uncover the hidden treasures.

But the Rambam offers another view: like all tzara’at, this was a consequence of negative behavior—selfishness and gossip.

So which one is it? A divine punishment? Or a hidden blessing?

I believe it’s both.

We say every Shabbos at Mincha: “Mishpatecha tehom rabba”—Your judgments, Hashem, are a vast, endless depth.
Hashem’s actions aren’t one-dimensional.
What looks like a setback may be packed with layers of meaning.
What seems to break us might be Hashem’s way of opening us up.

Just like when you’re late for a meeting—and suddenly, a perfect parking spot opens up. You think it was a miracle for you. But that moment might have affected many other people at the same time in ways you’ll never see.

Hashem is running every detail with perfect precision.

And that includes our challenges.

Sometimes Hashem breaks our walls… to show us the treasure inside.

Every challenge we face—no matter how painful or difficult—is ultimately for our good. 

When we accept it and trust Hashem, we often discover something incredible on the other side: a hidden treasure we never knew was there—our own untapped potential.