Question
How do we know for which sin G-d is punishing us for? Someone I met asked me this question. I said to him that we’re punished “measure for measure” but that did not satisfy him.
Answer
Anyone in our time who claims that he knows exactly why something happened to someone else is a liar (heard from Rabbi Mattisyahu Solomon) . We do not have prophets anymore, and cannot know with absolute clarity why certain things happen.
However, G-d constantly sends us indirect messages to help us change our ways. We often know the areas in which we need to improve, and when G-d sends us hardships, it is incumbent upon us to correct our shortcomings.