Shmuel I recounts the rivalry between
Elkanah's two wives - Chana, who was childless,
and Penina, who was blessed with seven children.
Penina taunted Chana incessantly about her barren state, causing her much anguish; as a result,
Penina was punished with the death of her seven
children, one by one. Yet the Sages testified to the
nobility of Penina's motive's - to induce Chana to
entreat G-d for the gift of children (Bava Basra
16b).
Reb Chaim Shmuelevitz asked, "Is this the reward for her
devoted concern for Chana's welfare?"
"Hurting someone," Reb Chaim answered, "no
matter how selfless and noble the reason, provokes an unpleasant divine reaction - not a
punishment, not retribution, but a reaction -
pure and simple - cause and effect. The purity of
one's intent in no way mitigates the pain inflicted;
and inflicting pain on a fellow human being can be
likened to putting one's hand into a fire. There
can be countless good, even imperative reasons
for doing so, but the hand will be burned nevertheless."
