ייִדישער מחשבֿה אויף דברים 7:10

Sometimes G-d sends good to the wicked for the following reasons: 1. A previous good deed he did, to pay him in this world, as written "And He repays those He hates to their face, to destroy them" (Devarim 7:10) which Onkelos renders: "He pays those He hates for their good deeds during their lives to destroy them".

Hence, the saints in ancient times, when some good fortune happened to them, were troubled in two respects: First, that they should not fall short in the complete fulfillment of the service and gratitude they owed for this good fortune and that it should not turn into evil for them, as our ancestor Jacob said, "I have diminished from all the mercies, and truth which You have shown unto Your servant" (Gen. 32:11); secondly, that it should not be the Creator's reward for their service, and thus their reward in the world to come would be diminished, as the ancients explained the text, "And repays them that hate Him to their face to destroy them (in the afterlife)" (Deut. 7:10). This will suffice on this theme.

You must know, that in examining the Law and the books of the Prophets, you will not find the expressions “burning anger,” “provocation,” or “jealousy” applied to God except in reference to idolatry; and that none but the idolater called “enemy,” “adversary,” or “hater of the Lord.” Comp. “And ye serve other gods, . . . and then the Lord’s wrath will be kindled against you” (Deut. 11:16, 17); “Lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee.” etc. (ib. 6:15); “To provoke him to anger through the work of your hands” (ib. 31:29); “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities” (ib. 32:21); “For the Lord thy God is a jealous God” (ib. 6:15); “Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?” (Jer. 8:19); “Because of the provoking of his sons and of his daughters” (Deut. 32:19); “For a fire is kindled in mine anger” (ib. 22); “The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies” (Nah. 1:2); “And repayeth them that hate Him” (Deut. 7:10); “Until He hath driven out His enemies from before Him” (Num. 32:2 1); “Which the Lord thy God hateth” (Deut. 16:22); “For every abomination to the Lord, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods” (ib. 12:31). Instances like these are innumerable; and if you examine all the examples met with in the holy writings, you will find that they confirm our view.