That was easy

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The creation of the world, as described in this week’s Parsha, is something that intrigues people, religious and not-religious alike. For the religious, contemplating creation infuses a person with great reverence for Hashem. For the not-religious it is a source of frustration by which human beings try to duplicate creation so they should not be beholden to the creator. As one influential Israeli politician once said in frustration about religious Jews, “We have already sent man to the moon, and those people are still teaching their children that G-d created the world in six days and on the seventh day He rested.” It almost seems like the person who does not wish to be religious feels the need to conquer creation, and then claim that they are not beholden to it.

The Medrash Tanchuma relates that Hadrian, the violent Roman Emperor, wanted to be recognized as god. One of his advisors rejected his idea on the grounds that one cannot rebel against the King inside His palace. “If you leave the space that G-d created then you will be able to rebel.”

Hadrian’s wife objected to his aspirations by telling him, “First relinquish the debt of what G-d gave you: Your life, your soul. Then you can rebel.” Hadrian acknowledged that if he gave up his life, he would no longer be alive to rebel.

But one of the advisors decided to play Hadrian’s aspiration to its logical conclusion. He said, “I have a ship that is floundering at sea, just 3 Mil distance away, and it contains my wealth. Can you save it for me?”

Hadrian replied, “I will send ships and an army to save it.”

The advisor wondered, “Why would you trouble ships and an army. Why not just send a little wind to rescue it.”

Although Hashem granted mankind much wisdom and the ability to discover and sometimes copy much of creation, one place that even the most haughty of men can be humbled is when they consider the ease and simplicity with which Hashem does things. You may possibly be able to rescue the ship, but Hashem does it with just a breath of air. A human may be able to get to the moon through a space program, and actually experience the vastness of space. But it takes true effort of denial to miss the reality of Hashem’s greatness and the ease and total mastery with which He controls the world that He created.

The great import of this concept was illustrated to me by a person who is undergoing dialysis due to a kidney problem. He showed me the boxes of supplies that are needed to replace the function of this little part of the body. Particularly noted is that even after all the scientific advances, the kidney Hashem created still does a better job at cleaning the human body than anything the human being can create.

This is similar to the awe that a person ought to feel whenever they see the green leaves of any plant or tree. Hashem created the equivalent of a factory in each leaf. Using chlorophyll, the plant not only makes food for itself, but also converts carbon dioxide into oxygen so that we have the air we need to breathe. What is particularly remarkable is that Hashem, because of His total mastery over that which he created, makes it look easy. Because for Him it is.

Hashem granted wisdom to humans and we are to use that wisdom well. But the function of our success is not that we should grow distant from Him and begin to claim that we are god. The function of wisdom, discovery, and innovation, is that we should appreciate the gifts that Hashem has given us.

©  2015 by TEACH613™