Our Gemara on amud aleph discusses the merit that Nebuchadnezzar earned for showing honor to Hashem:

Nebuchadnezzar was the scribe of Baladan, and at that time, he was not present. When he arrived, he asked the other scribes: "How did you write the king’s message?" They replied, "We wrote this: 'Greetings to King Hezekiah, greetings to the city of Jerusalem, and greetings to the great God, as we were commanded.'" Nebuchadnezzar said to them: "You called Him 'the great God' and placed Him last in the list of greetings? No, write this instead: 'Greetings to the great God, greetings to the city of Jerusalem, and greetings to King Hezekiah.'" Nebuchadnezzar then pursued the messenger to retrieve the letter and revise it. As he ran, the angel Gabriel appeared and stopped his pursuit. Rabbi Yoḥanan says that had Gabriel not intervened, there would have been no remedy for the enemies of the Jewish people—an implicit reference to the Jewish people themselves. Had Nebuchadnezzar succeeded in altering the letter, his reward would have been so great that he could have destroyed the Jewish people, as he desired.

There is a similar teaching about another Gentile king, Eglon, who stood up when Ehud announced he had a “gift” from God (which turned out to be a sword that would later impale him) in Midrash Tanchuma (Vayechi 14:7):

When Ehud entered, he said, “I have a message from God for you.” Eglon rose from his seat (Judg. 3:20). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: "You honored Me by rising from your throne; be assured, I will cause your daughter to bear a son who will sit on My throne." This refers to Ruth the Moabitess, from whom Solomon descended. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king (I Chron. 29:23).

Aggadic teachings such as these can be interpreted simply as actual rewards granted by a cosmic scorekeeper. However, I believe these stories illustrate unconscious attitudes and actions that convey deeply held values, often transmitted across generations. The instinct to rise and honor a recognized deity reflects an ethos of dignity and humility, imparting these qualities to those who observe, particularly children and mentees.

Upon reflection, we may recall the way a parent or grandparent prayed, held a lulav, responded to someone in distress, or interacted with an authority figure, as well as how they handled frustration. These everyday actions convey a treasure trove of non-verbal values—empathy, humility, respect, candor, and more. It is important to remember that much of what our children learn from us comes not from our words, but from these silent teachings.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com