A moment of pure creation, bringing something from absolutely nothing. What was that feeling like? What was God's immediate reaction?
Well, our tradition grapples with this very question. And, wouldn’t you know it, the rabbis have a story or two to help us understand.
In Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis, we find a fascinating passage offering insight into this divine sentiment. Specifically, Bereshit Rabbah 9 gives us two beautiful analogies.
Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina paints a picture of a king. This king builds a magnificent palace. He steps back, takes it all in, and is filled with joy. Overwhelmed by the beauty, he exclaims, "Palace, palace, if only you could always find favor before me just as you have found favor before me at this moment!" Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina suggests this is how the Holy One, Blessed be He, felt about His world. “My world, My world, if only you could always find favor before Me just as you have found favor before Me at this moment.”
It's a powerful image, isn't it? God, like an artist beholding their masterpiece, hoping it will always remain as perfect as it is in that initial moment of creation.
But Rabbi Yonatan offers a slightly different, yet equally compelling, analogy.
He describes a king preparing for his daughter's wedding. He lovingly constructs a bridal canopy and chamber – a chuppah (bridal canopy) and cheder (chamber) – whitewashing it, embossing it, and painting it with care. Seeing his finished creation, overflowing with love, he says to his daughter, "My daughter, if only this bridal chamber could always find favor before me just as you have found favor before me at this moment!" And again, Rabbi Yonatan suggests that this is similar to how God felt about His world: “My world, My world, if only you could always find favor before Me just as you have found favor before Me at this moment.”
Notice the subtle difference? Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina's analogy focuses on the sheer beauty and perfection of creation, while Rabbi Yonatan's highlights the love and intimacy involved. It's not just about the object itself, but the relationship that is being fostered. It's the love a parent has for a child, hoping their life will always be filled with the same joy and promise as their wedding day.
Both Rabbis, in their own way, are emphasizing the profound connection between God and creation. The stories remind us that creation wasn't just a one-time act, but an ongoing relationship. God isn't some distant clockmaker who wound up the universe and walked away. According to Bereshit Rabbah, God actively desires to maintain that initial feeling of favor, that initial spark of perfection and love.
So, what does this mean for us?
Perhaps it's an invitation to see the world with fresh eyes, to appreciate the beauty and wonder that God saw at the moment of creation. Perhaps it's a reminder that we, too, are part of that ongoing relationship, and that our actions have the power to either maintain or diminish that initial feeling of favor.
Ultimately, these two analogies invite us to reflect on our role in preserving the beauty and sanctity of the world, striving to keep it forever pleasing in the eyes of its Creator. Can we, in our own way, ensure that God's world continues to find favor? It's a question worth pondering.