Turns out, the ancient rabbis grappled with similar questions about our relationship with the Divine. How can we reconcile God's infinite power with our own finite abilities?
The Yalkut Shimoni, a fascinating collection of rabbinic commentary on the Hebrew Bible, tackles this very issue, drawing on verses from Job, Hosea, Ezekiel, and Numbers. Specifically, Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 920 dives into two seemingly contradictory verses from the Book of Job: "See, God is beyond reach in His power" (Job 36:22) and "The Omnipotent – we cannot attain to Him; He is great in power" (Job 37:23). How can we reconcile these statements?
Rav Berakhiah offers a beautiful interpretation, starting with the word "hen" in Job 36:22. He points out that hen can also mean "one" in Greek. So, the verse could be read as "One is our God; exalted in His power." But it doesn't stop there. Rav Berakhiah continues, "He increases the strength of the righteous to perform His will. And who teaches like Him – to the sinners, He teaches the path of repentance; repent O Israel." (alluding to Hosea 14:2).
So, what's the answer? The Yalkut Shimoni proposes a striking balance: when God gives, He gives according to His boundless power. Think of the imagery from Ezekiel 47:12: "The stream on the banks will grow," an overflowing abundance. Or the story in Numbers 11:31, where "A wind from the Lord started up, swept quail… about a day’s journey on this side!" A massive, almost unbelievable gift.
But – and this is a crucial "but" – when God asks something of us, He only asks according to our capacity. We aren't expected to offer more than we can give. As the Torah says, "You shall offer one lamb in the morning" (Numbers 28:4). A single, manageable offering. Or "And the tabernacle, make ten curtains" (Exodus 26:1). Specific, achievable tasks.
Isn't that incredible? God's power is limitless, but His expectations of us are not. God meets us where we are. It’s not about superhuman feats or impossible sacrifices. It's about the one lamb, the ten curtains – the things we can do, offered with a sincere heart.
The Yalkut Shimoni offers a comforting and empowering message: we don't have to be perfect. We just have to be willing to offer what we can, knowing that God’s grace fills in the gaps. He asks for our "one lamb" knowing that He will shower us with abundance in return. What "one lamb" offering can you make today?