Ever wonder who God was talking to when He said, "Let us make man?" It's one of those questions that has echoed through the ages, inspiring countless interpretations. Did God need advice? Was He lonely? The rabbis of old, wrestling with this very verse in Bereshit Rabbah (Genesis Rabbah), came up with some truly fascinating answers.
Rabbi Yehoshua, speaking in the name of Rabbi Levi, offers a beautiful image. He suggests that God consulted with the "works of the heavens and the earth." It's like a king who has two trusted advisors, wouldn’t undertake any major decision without their input. Think about that for a moment. God, in this view, is considering the delicate balance of creation, consulting with the very fabric of existence before bringing humanity into being. It's a vision of profound interconnectedness.
Then we have Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, who proposes that God consulted with what was made on each and every day of creation. Another analogy of a king and his advisor. So, God is reviewing the blueprints, making sure the new creation of humanity harmonizes with everything that came before.
But Rabbi Ami offers a strikingly different, and perhaps more human, perspective. He says that God consulted with His own heart. Now, this gets interesting. It's like a king who hires an architect to build a palace, but then isn't happy with the result. Who does the king blame? The architect, of course! So, if God created something that ultimately brought sorrow, who is to blame? Rabbi Ami points us towards the idea that God was saddened in His heart (Genesis 6:6). God, in this view, is grappling with the potential consequences of creation, understanding the risks involved.
Rav Asi offers another variation on this theme, comparing it to a king who suffers a loss in a business transaction due to an intermediary's actions. Who does the king hold responsible? The intermediary. Again, the verse "He was saddened in His heart" (Genesis 6:6) is invoked, suggesting that God experienced regret or sorrow related to His own creation.
What are we to make of all this? It's not about finding one "right" answer, but about appreciating the richness and complexity of the rabbinic imagination. These interpretations, rooted in Bereshit Rabbah, offer us glimpses into the inner workings of the divine, portraying God not as a solitary, all-powerful being, but as one who considers, consults, and even feels the weight of His own decisions.