It might surprise you, but according to the Rabbis in Vayikra Rabbah, even these tiny creatures are essential to the grand tapestry of creation.
"The advantage of land" – that's the phrase that unlocks this idea. Even those things we might consider superfluous, irritating even, are included in the creation of the world. How do we know? Because, as it's written in Genesis 2:1, "The heavens and the earth and their entire host were completed." Everything, down to the smallest gnat, has its place.
And it goes even deeper than that. The text then makes a surprising connection: "A king is subservient to a field." Now, who is this "king"? Well, the Rabbis tell us, it's none other than the Holy One, blessed be He! The one about whom it is written, "The Lord reigns; He is clothed in grandeur" (Psalms 93:1). But how can the King of the Universe be subservient to a field?
Here, the text makes another leap. The "field," it says, is Zion! As it is written: "Zion will be plowed as a field" (Micah 3:12). So, what does it all mean? It suggests a profound interconnectedness. Even the most powerful being is connected to, and in a sense dependent on, the land, on Zion, on the physical world.
This leads to a crucial point about mitzvot, good deeds or commandments. "One who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver," the text continues. In other words, one who loves mitzvot will not be satisfied with just a few mitzvot. The pursuit of goodness is endless!
But there's a catch. "Nor one who loves abundance, [with produce]" – anyone who avidly pursues mitzvot but doesn't have a mitzvah that is fixed for the generations, a mitzvah that has a long-term effect, what benefit does he have after his death? It's not enough to simply do good in the moment; we must strive to create a lasting impact.
The text uses Moses as an example. He performed countless mitzvot, acts of righteousness, and good deeds. Yet, he also made sure to perform a mitzvah that was fixed for the generations. What was it? "Then, Moses designated [three cities beyond the Jordan toward the rising sun]" (Deuteronomy 4:41).
Now, these cities weren't officially cities of refuge until the Israelites settled the Land of Israel. But Moses, knowing he wouldn't be around to see that day, took the initiative to designate them beforehand. He ensured that this important act of justice and compassion would be carried out, even after he was gone.
This passage from Vayikra Rabbah challenges us to think about our own actions. Are we focusing only on the immediate, the fleeting? Or are we striving to create something that will endure, something that will benefit generations to come? Are we planting seeds that will blossom into a better world, long after we're gone?