Jewish tradition offers some breathtaking answers. Imagine, if you will, two thousand years before heaven and earth. A time of pure potential. What was brewing in the cosmic kitchen?
According to Legends of the Jews, a monumental work compiled by Louis Ginzberg, seven extraordinary things already existed. Think of them as the blueprints and building blocks of reality.
First, there was the Torah itself. Not just the physical scroll, but the very blueprint of creation, written, amazingly, with black fire on white fire, resting in the lap of God. Mind. Blown.
Then, the Divine Throne, ready for its occupant. It was erected in the highest heaven, the one poised above the Hayyot, those celestial beings who carry God’s chariot, as described in Ezekiel. Talk about setting the stage!
And of course, Paradise, situated on God’s right, and its opposite, Hell, on His left. Already, the destinations of souls were prepared, the ultimate reward and consequence laid out before creation even began.
Next, the Celestial Sanctuary, positioned directly in front of God. In this otherworldly space stood an altar adorned with a jewel, upon which was engraved the very Name of the Messiah. And from this sanctuary emanated a powerful Voice, crying out, "Return, ye children of men." A constant invitation, a call to repentance woven into the very fabric of existence.
Pretty wild, right? But it gets even more interesting when we consider the role of the Torah in the creation itself.
When God decided to create the world, He didn’t just snap His fingers. He consulted with the Torah! The Torah, personified as wisdom itself, advised Him, "O Lord, a king without an army and without courtiers and attendants hardly deserves the name of king, for none is nigh to express the homage due to him."
Think about that for a second. The Torah isn’t just a set of rules; it's a guide, a partner in the act of creation. It’s suggesting that creation needs beings to appreciate and acknowledge the Divine. God wants relationship.
God was so pleased with this advice! This detail, according to the tradition, teaches all earthly kings – and, by extension, all of us – to seek counsel before acting. Before making big decisions. Before creating anything new.
It's a profound lesson about humility, collaboration, and the importance of seeking wisdom. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, the ancient rabbis constantly sought guidance from the Torah and from each other.
So, what does all this mean for us today? Perhaps it’s a reminder that even before the universe as we know it existed, the seeds of relationship, wisdom, and purpose were already planted. And maybe, just maybe, those seeds are still waiting to sprout in our own lives. Are we listening to the wisdom around us? Are we consulting with our own inner Torah before we act? Are we creating a world worthy of praise?