It’s a question that gets right at the heart of our relationship with the Divine.
Da'at Tevunot, a profound text of Jewish thought, offers a fascinating perspective. It suggests that God, blessed be He, could have created the universe in a single, all-encompassing instant. An act so complete, so beyond our understanding, that we wouldn't even be able to question it. We'd be silenced by its sheer incomprehensibility.
Think about it. If creation was entirely beyond our grasp, how could we possibly form any kind of meaningful connection with the Creator? How could we even begin to understand the divine will?
But the text goes on to say that God, in His infinite wisdom, chose not to do that. Instead, He deliberately chose to act in a way that we, as humans, can at least partially understand. He wanted us to be able to contemplate His actions, to chase after understanding, even if we can only grasp a tiny sliver of the whole picture.
Why? Because the Divine will desired that humanity be able to understand at least a small part of His ways. He wanted us to engage, to question, to explore. He wanted to meet us where we are.
Da'at Tevunot argues that God chose to act "according to the measure of the creations and not according to his measure." He limited Himself, in a way, to give us room to contemplate and understand. To build a relationship.
The proof? Look at the story of creation in the Torah. It unfolds over six days, with distinct acts and utterances. God didn't create everything in one fell swoop, even though He certainly could have. As we read in Genesis 1, "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." Not a single, overwhelming command, but a series of deliberate, ordered actions.
This ordered approach, the text continues, allows us to differentiate between actions, to understand their reasons, to trace their consequences. We can explore the classes, types, and details of creation, all within an order that is maintained "in the ways of mankind."
So, what does this mean for us? It means that the world, with all its complexities and apparent imperfections, is not a cosmic accident. It's a deliberate act of divine communication. An invitation to engage with the Creator, to seek understanding, and to find meaning in the world around us.
It’s a reminder that even though we may never fully grasp the infinite wisdom of God, we are not meant to be passive observers. We are invited to participate in the ongoing process of creation, to ask questions, and to strive for understanding. To find the Divine spark within ourselves and within the world.