Gam Zu LeTova - II

There are several lessons I learned from my previous post:

1. I am always seeking new paradigms of understanding Aggadic statements of our Sages. Rabbi Chaim ben Betzalel interpreted the story of Nachum Ish Gamzu as being partially literal and partially allegorical. This was a bit eye opening to me, as well as very rewarding. There is no need to see a particular story as being one or the other, it can be a bit of both.
2. Frequently when people are in a difficult situation, or something bad has befallen them, they respond by saying גם זו לטובה, this, too, is for the best. I have frequently noticed people abdicating their own responsibility to do anything more about the situation and just leaving it up to God once they say that. However, based on this interpretation, after acknowledging and understanding that this was for the best, Nachum then proceeded to figure out what it was that he could learn from the incident. He discovered what it was that was best and that God wanted from him, and acted upon it.
3. Finally, I have at times heard people use this phrase in response to hearing about atrocities committed against people. However, we never find the Gemara using it in those situations. Nachum was in a pickle, and he had to figure out what to do. Yes, a crime was committed, but it was short of a great atrocity. Similarly in the well known story of Rebbe Akiva (a student of Nachum ish Gamzu) when his donkey and rooster died and his light was extinguished, there was no great atrocity perpetrated against him, he was just stuck in a difficult situation and had to realize that there was some sliver lining that he needed to discover. However, when it comes to a true calamity, our Sages teach us that we do not have the capacity to find the good in it in this world. That is why we say ברוך דיין האמת, Blessed is the True Judge.