Rebbe Yochanan said in the name of Rebbe Yossi: Moshe asked God for three things, and God granted them all.
He asked that the Divine Presence dwell among the Jewish People, and God granted his request, as it is said: "...only if You accompany us."
He asked that the Divine Presence not dwell among idolaters, and God granted his request, as it is said: "me and Your people should be special."
He asked God to explain Himself, and He did, as it is said: "explain Your ways." Moshe said before God: "Master of the Universe, why do some good people have it good, and some good people have it bad? Why do some bad people have it good, and some bad people have it bad?"
God said to him: "A good person who has it good is a good person the son of a good person. A good person who has it bad is a good person the son of a bad person. A bad person who has it good is a bad person the son of a good person. A bad person who has it bad is a bad person the son of a bad person."
Really? Do good people really suffer just because their parents were bad?
It is written in one place "God visits the sins of the father upon the children". And it is written elsewhere: "sons shall not be put to death on account of their fathers." We asked about the contradiction between these two verses, and we answered: the first verse applies to a son who follows in his father's evil ways; the second verse applies to a son who does not follow in his father's evil ways.
Rather, this is what God said to Moshe: "A good person who has it good is a totally good person. A good person who has it bad is a mostly good person. A bad person who has it good is a mostly bad person. A bad person who has it bad is a totally bad person."
Rebbi Meir disagrees with Rebbe Yossi in this matter.
Rebbi Meir said: two of Moshe's requests were granted, but one was not granted, as it is said: "I will favor those who I will favor," even if they are undeserving. "And I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy," even if they are undeserving.
(Brachot 7a)
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