Divine providence and the mechanics of justice operate on levels far beyond human comprehension. The hidden wisdom of God's actions guides His providence over all creation [רמב״ן]. This profound mystery dictates exactly how punishments for human sins are determined [מצודת דוד]. At times, these mysteries point specifically to the deeper secrets of the Torah that a person failed to study and engage with properly [רש״י, אלשיך]. This eternal wisdom stands forever [מצודת ציון], serving as the divine order by which human beings are ultimately judged [רלב״ג].
The structure of reality itself is dual in nature. Every single element in the world contains both a revealed layer and a concealed layer, and God's guidance remains perfectly good in both realms, even when human beings fail to grasp it [רמב״ן]. Beyond what is visible, everything possesses an external appearance perceived by the senses and a true, hidden inner essence. Because of this duality, a person cannot accurately measure their own spiritual standing by looking only at their outward actions [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, countless truths remain entirely hidden from human knowledge [אבן עזרא].
Recognizing the severe limits of human understanding changes how one views suffering and sin. The primary approach among commentators suggests that God acts as a compassionate creditor. The suffering a person experiences is actually less severe than what they truly deserve, leaving a remaining debt of sins that God has not yet collected [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אלשיך, רמב״ן]. In His mercy, God delays the full penalty, allowing the person time rather than letting them perish instantly under the crushing weight of their faults [רלב״ג].
Others view this dynamic through the lens of divine forgetfulness, where God seemingly overlooks and forgives a portion of a person's sins. In light of this grace, a person should lower their complaints, listen closely to Him, and speak less [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A third perspective focuses on human awareness. God conceals a person's flaws from their own eyes, leading them to feel confident in their perfect righteousness because they only examine their outward behavior. In truth, they remain at fault for failing to develop their inner soul and for not realizing the high spiritual potential expected of them [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].