איוב, פרק ל״ח, פסוק מ״א

God's active care and providence over the world extend to the lowest, most despised, and impure creatures. This profound attention is revealed in a miraculous event within the natural life cycle of the raven.

The primary approach among commentators outlines a tragic scenario in the wild. When raven chicks first hatch, they emerge completely white and without feathers. The adult ravens, which are entirely black, look at their white offspring and fail to recognize them. Suspecting that these chicks are the product of a different species, the parents reject them, abandoning the nest and refusing to provide any food. Left alone, the young birds wander aimlessly, facing certain starvation.

In this state of total abandonment, the starving chicks cry out, begging God for help. God responds to their distress with a miraculous provision. He causes mosquitoes to form directly from the chicks' own waste. These insects enter the mouths of the young birds to keep them alive.

Adding a deeper layer to this event, [אלשיך] points out a hidden double miracle. The danger facing the rejected white chicks is not just starvation, but an active threat from their own parents. If the adult ravens are left hungry, they might turn on the white chicks and eat them, believing them to be foreign prey. To prevent this, God ensures that the adult ravens find plenty of food elsewhere. By satisfying the hunger of the parents, God keeps them from losing their minds and acting out of cruel desperation. At the exact same time, He miraculously feeds the helpless chicks left behind in the nest.