A growing distance from Gd

Hi,

"The early ones were tested by Gd, as it is written, 'And Gd tested Avraham,' and it is written regarding the generation of the wilderness, 'That I might test him, to see whether he will follow My Torah or not,' and, 'To oppress you and to test you.'

"But the later ones were tested by the nations, as in, 'These are the nations Gd left to test Israel.'"

(Midrash Tanchuma Bereishit 43)

המצפה לישועה,
Mordechai