Another matter: “But now, Lord, You are our Father” (Isaiah 64:7) – the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘What did you see that led you to seek Me now? Above it is written: “There is no one calling Your name, rousing himself to hold on to You, because You concealed Your face from us and melted us because of our iniquities” (Isaiah 64:6). Now that you see yourselves in distress, you come to Me and say: “You are our Father”?
Even though everything is My handiwork, I wish to show Myself as Father and Maker only to one who performs My will,’ as it is stated: “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory, I have formed him and I have made him” (Isaiah 43:7).12This verse indicates that God views Himself as Maker only of those who are “called by My name,” meaning that they are fulfill God’s commands and His will.
Another matter: “But now, Lord, You are our Father” (Isaiah 64:7) – the Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Have you forsaken your patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Me you call Father?’ They said to Him: ‘It is You that we acknowledge as a father.’ This is analogous to an orphan girl who was being raised by a guardian who was a good, trustworthy person. He raised her and protected her properly, and sought to marry her off.
The scribe entered to write the marriage contract. He said to her: ‘What is your name?’ She said: ‘So-and-so.’ He said to her: ‘And what is your father’s name?’
She was silent. Her guardian said to her: ‘Why are you being silent?’ She said to him: ‘It is because I do not know any father other than you, for it is the one who raises who is called father and not the one who begets.’ So too, the orphans are Israel, as it is stated: “We have become orphans, without a father” (Lamentations 5:3).
Their good and trustworthy guardian is the Holy One blessed be He. Israel began calling Him: Our Father, as it is stated: “But now, Lord, You are our Father.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Have you forsaken your patriarchs and Me you call: Our Father,’ as it is stated: “Look to Abraham your father” (Isaiah 51:2). They said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, the one who raises is the father, not the one who begets, as it is stated: “For You are our Father; for Abraham does not know us”’ (Isaiah 63:16).