Rabbi Elazar, in Vayikra Rabbah 35, offers a powerful comparison. He says, "The way of the world is that a king issues a decree; if he wishes to fulfill it, he fulfills it, and if not, ultimately he has others fulfill it." Think about it – how often do we see leaders making pronouncements and then conveniently delegating the actual work, or worse, not even adhering to their own laws?

But, Rabbi Elazar continues, "The Holy One blessed be He is not so, but rather, He issues a decree and He fulfills it first." This isn't just some abstract theological point. It's a radical statement about the nature of God and divine leadership. The idea is that God doesn't just command; God embodies the command.

Where do we see this? Rabbi Elazar brings a verse from Leviticus 19:32: “You shall rise before the aged, show deference to the elderly, and you shall fear your God, I am the Lord.” This verse seems straightforward enough – respect your elders. But Rabbi Elazar sees something deeper.

He connects it to the idea that God first fulfilled this mitzvah of standing before the elderly.

Now, where does that idea come from? It's based on the story of God visiting Abraham in Genesis 18:1. The Midrash, specifically Bereshit Rabbah 48:7, points out that Abraham was sitting, while God, in a sense, was standing. The implication is that God showed deference to Abraham, an older and righteous man.

Think about that for a moment. The Creator of the Universe, the ultimate power, demonstrating respect for a human being. It’s a mind-blowing concept. It completely flips the power dynamic on its head.

So what does this all mean for us? Well, it's more than just a nice story. It's a challenge. It's an invitation to reflect on our own actions. Do we simply issue decrees, or do we embody the values we preach? Do we ask others to do things we wouldn’t do ourselves?

The idea that God "walks the walk," so to speak, sets an incredibly high standard. It reminds us that true leadership, whether in our families, our communities, or our own lives, begins with personal example. It begins with embodying the values we hold dear.

And maybe, just maybe, by striving to live up to that example, we can catch a glimpse of the divine in our own actions.