A man stayed in his house as a flood engulfed his town. Two men in a
rowboat came to his house and offered to take him to safety. No thank you,
the man said, G-d will help me. As the waters rose, the man retreated to
the second story of his house. Now, two men in a motorboat came by and offered
to rescue him. Again, the man declined, saying, No thank you, G-d will
help me. As the waters rose still higher, the man retreated again to the
rooftop of his house. A helicopter came by, and someone inside it threw down
a rope, urging the man to grab it and be pulled up into the helicopter. Once
more, the man declined and said, No thank you, G-d will help me. Whereupon
a mighty voice called out to the man, You idiot! I sent you a rowboat,
a motorboat, and now a helicopter. What more do you want me to do?.