Why Was Rabbi Elazar Not Born in a Worthy Generation?

I heard a story from the Talmud about Rabbi Elazar Ben Pedat, who had nothing to eat and asked Hashem, who responded that He would have to destroy the entire world, and then maybe he would be born under a luckier financial star.

The lecturer beautifully explained that sometimes a generation is guilty and does not deserve sustenance, and if there is a righteous person, the entire generation survives on his account, leaving him with nothing.

Then the option that Hashem offered him was to destroy the world, and then perhaps he would be born in a worthy generation that would not need "to live off his means," and he would not be so poor. The question is, though every person has free will, surely Hashem knows everything and could place him in a worthy generation?

I would very much like a satisfactory answer, as this question confuses me.

Thank you very much and may you have strength!

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Hello and blessings,

Hashem wanted to grant Rabbi Elazar Ben Pedat a very high portion in the Garden of Eden, and therefore created a reality where the entire generation depended on him. This is similar to Rabbi Akiva, who was martyred with great suffering for the sanctification of Hashem's name, but in doing so earned a very high level in the world to come. Notice that the Talmud describes how Rabbi Elazar earned a great and mighty portion in the Garden of Eden thanks to his good choices. This was done for his greatest benefit, and his soul remains happy to this day because of his choice to protect his generation.

It is important to remember that Hashem gave the choice to Rabbi Elazar Ben Pedat, and the fact that Rabbi Elazar chose to continue living in poverty is because he understood the importance of the matter and wanted the truest benefit.

Furthermore, if Hashem had placed Rabbi Elazar in a worthy generation before his time, who exactly would have protected the guilty generation in the later period? For Rabbi Elazar was chosen for this role precisely because his generation was guilty, and his soul chose from the heavens to descend to the world to protect the people of Israel during their time of weakness. In doing so, his soul achieved greatness.

In any case, there is no reason to be overly concerned by questions. We must believe that Hashem, who is compassionate and gracious, who gave us the ability to have compassion, certainly knows all that we know, understands all that we understand, and has more compassion than we do, for He is the Father of all mercies, and all our compassion comes from Him. If He acted in His world as He did, we must trust that it was the only choice, and constantly remember that this world is temporary, and the true destination of souls is the world to come.
People in this world are like small children who want more and more candies and sweets, and even if explained for hours that it ruins the teeth and harms health, that it would develop an appetite for food and lead to obesity, the children will not listen and will continue to demand. So too we, in this world, demand materialism, not understanding that one day we will see things differently from the world to come, as souls, and recognize the magnitude of our mistakes. Hashem behaves in the best way for us, even if it sometimes seems as if He does not consider us, as He acts as a loving parent towards His children, and like any loving parent, does the best for His children even when they do not understand it.

With blessings,
Daniel Bles