Abraham asked: "O Eternal, Mighty One! What is this picture of the creatures?"
God answered: "This is my will with regard to those who exist in the divine world-counsel. It seemed well-pleasing before my sight, and then I gave commandment to them through my Word. Whatever I had determined to be was already planned beforehand in this picture, and it stood before me before it was created, as you have seen."
Everything was predetermined. The rise of evil. The coming of the righteous. The whole course of creation laid out in advance like an architect's plan. In the rabbinical tradition, Israel's election is spoken of as predestined before the creation of the world, along with certain other things: the name of the Messiah, the Torah, and repentance. But as Rabbi Akiva said, "Everything is foreseen, but free will is given."
Abraham pressed further. "O Lord, mighty and eternal! Who are the people in this picture on this side and on that?"
God answered: "Those on the left side are the multitude of peoples who have formerly existed and who are destined after you, some for judgment and restoration, others for vengeance and destruction at the end of the world."
"But those on the right side of the picture, they are the people set apart for me from among the peoples alongside Azazel. These are they whom I have ordained to be born of you and to be called My People."
Right and left. Light and darkness. God's people and the nations. The cosmic picture was divided down the middle, and Abraham's descendants stood on the side of the righteous. But even among the nations on the left, some were destined for restoration. The judgment was not absolute for all. Some would survive. Others would be destroyed. The picture was more complex than a simple division could contain.