Parashas Vayeitzei - The Difference between a Tzaddik and a Rasha

This week's Dvar Torah has been sponsored for:
Refua Shelema: Leah Ayala Bas Yehudis
May you have health, happiness, and success!
(If you would like to sponsor a Dvar Torah, feel free to email me: SharingTorah@gmail.com)
__________________________________________

After receiving Aisav's brachos from Yitzchak, Yaakov was advised (by Rivka) to run away so that Aisav wouldn't kill him. Hashem revealed Himself to Yaakov through a dream to show him that He would be with him every step of the way.

Yaakov made a vow, "If Hashem will be with me, and guards me on this path that I am going on, gives me bread to eat and clothing to wear... I will surely give a tenth to You." Rashi explains the line of, "And give me bread to eat..." as: 'One who must search for bread is considered abandoned', for it says, "I have never seen a righteous man forsaken (abandoned) and his children searching for bread." [1],[2]

I got a little confused after reading this Rashi, because I recall learning by the incident of the Nachash (who convinced Chava to eat from the Eitz Ha'daas); that one of the nine punishments he got for causing this sin was, "And dust you shall eat all the days of your life." [3] Everything the snake eats tastes like dust. He is provided with food wherever he goes. No worries.

Question is: Why is that a punishment? It seems like a blessing to have food whenever, wherever he is. The answer I learned: Hashem provides to people when He wants nothing to do with them. The reason why Hashem brings suffering upon us is because He wants us to talk (cry out; daven) to Him. He wants a connection with us. By the nachash, Hashem didn't want to be bothered with him, so He granted the nachash enough sustenance for the rest of his life.

Does this seem a little contradicting with the Rashi I stated above? Hashem made a promise to Yaakov that He will provide bread for him to eat, and will not forsake (abandon) him. Seems like the same thing Hashem did for the nachash.

I believe the answer is: Hashem provided for the nachash all the sustenance he needed, because Hashem didn't want to have the nachash come begging for food. That's the difference between a rasha and a tzaddik! A rasha comes to Hashem only when he needs something from Him. If he sees he is lacking, he will suddenly make believe he and Hashem are "close," and would ask for help. A tzaddik, however, goes to Hashem for whatever the situation he's in. If the tzaddik is having a bad day, he will say, "Baruch Hashem!" If he has whatever he needs, such as: food, clothing, happiness, health, parnassa, etc... He will acknowledge it all came from Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and thank Him! He doesn't only 'connect' with Hashem when something bad happens, rather at all times.

That's why Hashem provided (everyday) both the nachash and the tzaddik "bread." Because Hashem knew the tzaddik wouldn't abandon Him. He would still keep the connection and praise Him. However, by the nachash, Hashem knew he would only come to Him when he needs something, therefore He provided only to push him away.

May we always have everything we need and acknowledge that it comes from Hakadosh Baruch Hu and thank Him both for the good events that happen to us and the bad.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso

[1] Bereishis 28:20
[2] Tehillim 36:28
[3] Bereishis 3:14