Parshat Bereishit - The Worth of Humility
In this weeks parsha the Torah tells us of G-d's creation of the world and all within it. Six days G-d created and on the seventh He rested. Each day was dedicated to different creations. and the pinnacle of creation was Man. The Torah writes "Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness (1:26)." This hakdama or introduction indicates to us that man's creation was done with great care and deliberation. The Abarbanel points out the command to creating Man was different than previous commands where G-d said "Let the earth bring forth..." G-d couched man's creation in this form to point out this very idea, that man's creation was on a wholly different level than previous creations.
Yet, the mefarshim are puzzled with a fundamental issue in the verse. When telling us of the great idea to make Man, the Torah uses the plural "Let us make man" which would seem to indicate their is more than one creator. this would obviously be completely antithetical to the basis of Judaism and Monotheism yet nonetheless G-d uses this phraseology. And in truth Moshe himself raised this very issue. The Midrash tells us that when Moshe wrote the Torah and came to this verse he exclaimed "why G-d would you create the pretext- Pitchon Peh for heretics to maintain their belief of plural divinity!" Yet G-d replies "write! whoever wishes to err will err".
The question though is why? What can be gained by using this specific way of expression? Why risk the possible error of many people throughout the generations due to this verse?
To answer this very question Rashi cites Chazal "from here we learn of he great humility of G-d, for he consulted the Angels before creating man, so too we should always consult others before embarking upon a new idea". This is amazing, seemingly this lesson of G-ds humility in consulting the Angels is justification enough to risk heresy How can this be so? How can we better understand this idea?
Perhaps we can glean a deep insight from this question. Very often we are lead to belief that the results of any particular action are a reflection of the correctness of the deed itself. but very often this is not true. for very often what one course of action is correct may not necessarily lead to the result that we desire, yet the reaction or course of action was nonetheless correct, this is very often true in interpersonal relationships where we cannot control the result or consequence of others behavior . Sometimes being non confrontational and timid is the correct response even though this may not lead to appeasing the other person but may in fact even cause them more outrage. This goes for responding in a more aggressive stance as well. Yet the results of our actions cannot be the litmus of success and failure regarding the initial decision.
Clearly Hashem felt that this lesson of humility, or seeking guidance and counsel is worth teaching in this particular context, despite the possible error that may come from this verse. For nothing can be allowed to get in the way of acting with forethought, with clarity of mind of purity of intention, when embarking upon a course of action, not even the possibility of the great error of heresy!
This should serve for us as a lesson in the appreciation of seeking counsel and spur us to take heed of those greater and more wiser among us
Shabbat Shalom
