And usually, it's not something we relish. In fact, Genesis tells us, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Gen. 2:18). But what about God?
Think about this: before anything existed, before the cosmos bloomed into being, there was only God. Just… God. A single, solitary existence. Now, we're complex beings, right? We're a mix of body and soul, constantly navigating the physical and the spiritual. That duality is part of what makes us human.
But God? God is different. God is not a composite being. There aren't different parts to God that need to be reconciled. God is a singular, unified essence, existing entirely and completely within Himself.
Philo of Alexandria, a philosopher who lived in the first century, grappled with this very idea. In his work, Legum Allegoriarum (2:1-2), he highlights this distinction: God's singular nature versus humanity's dual nature. It’s a profound difference, isn’t it? We are made of multiple elements, but God is purely and simply one. God Alone.
What does it even mean for God to be one?
The idea of God's oneness, His echad, is fundamental to Judaism. It's right there in the Shema, our central prayer: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). It’s not just a statement of monotheism, that we believe in one God, but it's a statement about the very nature of God: indivisible, complete, whole.
This concept of God's absolute oneness is something to really sit with. It challenges us to think beyond our own experiences, our own limitations. We, in our human experience, are always in relationship – with ourselves, with others, with the world. But God, in His essence, is self-sufficient. He doesn't need anything.
So, what does it mean for us, these dualistic beings, to contemplate the oneness of God? Perhaps it's an invitation. An invitation to strive for a kind of wholeness within ourselves, a striving to unify our own conflicting desires and impulses. Or, maybe, it's a reminder of the vastness and mystery of the Divine, something ultimately beyond our full comprehension. It’s a reminder that God is not just a being, but the very ground of all being. A solitary, singular, and utterly complete existence. Something truly wondrous to consider.