My dear friend, it all boils down to the core of our faith: the absolute and singular authority of God. Our sages, whose wisdom stretches back to Moses himself, taught us that the Holy One, blessed be He, created everything entirely on His own. No cosmic board of directors, no divine assistance needed.
This idea stands in stark contrast to some interpretations, particularly one we find challenged in the Zohar. Remember how, back in Sections 20, 21, and 24, we talked about the philosopher who suggested that the Creator established ascending levels, each deriving authority from the one above? This view posits a sort of divine hierarchy where beings assist each other.
It’s a compelling image, isn't it? The judge might even argue, as some do, that the Atik Yomin (Ancient One) stretches out in the south, the Arich Anpin (Long Face) in the north, the Father in the east, the Mother in the west, and the Small One (Ze'ir Anpin) and His Consort in the corners, with Adam Kadmon (Primordial Adam), the greatest among them, measuring in the middle. It sounds grand, almost like a celestial family portrait.
But this is where our sages raise a crucial point. Think about an earthly king. When he's honored, so too are the nobles of his kingdom, right? Because they share his burden, they help him rule. But does that mean they share his authority?
The author of The Wars of God argues that some Kabbalists, in their zeal to revere God, have fallen into a similar trap. They've, perhaps unintentionally, elevated entities alongside the Creator. He suggests that they honor these imagined entities, like Adam Kadmon, with the declaration, "Behold now, for I, I am He, I am the true one, and I give life." Or the Father, with "Let there be light, and the waters shall gather," and the Mother, with "Let us make man," and the Ancient One with "The Lord, your work in the midst of the years, revive it," and the Small One with "I am the Lord your God who brought you out." These are all echoes of divine power, but not divine beings in themselves.
It's a subtle but vital distinction.
As we find in Genesis and as Rabbi Nachalat Yosef (page 61a-61b) explains, the concept of kingship is even associated with the phrase "These are the gods who struck Egypt." This suggests that the Malkhut (Kingdom) acted with the assistance of Binah (Understanding) to inflict punishment. But again, this doesn't diminish God's ultimate role.
So, what's the takeaway? Perhaps it’s this: While the universe may be filled with wonders and mysteries beyond our comprehension, while there may be layers upon layers of existence, the source of all creation, all power, all authority, remains one and indivisible. God alone. It's a humbling and awe-inspiring thought, isn't it?