He is Hiding Behind Nature

Why is it that we cannot experience Hashem outright?  He is hiding behind this concept of nature that He created, but for what purpose?

As I have stated many times we are here on Earth to improve ourselves spiritually and to make adequate correction that will bring us to an eternity of joy with Hashem.  We accomplish this task by voluntarily and willingly serving Hashem and doing all that He asks of us.  If we didn't have the free will decision capability we would not accomplish our mission.  Hashem did not create us as robots to just automatically do everything without a thought process.  We say everyday that Hashem created us in His image.  This is not referring to a physical image; but, that we have personality traits that emulate Hashem and allow us to do His will.  This also means that we are capable of deciding and carrying out, of our own free will, His commandments or not doing them.  Without the ability to decide, the rectification to our souls would not occur.  If we were aware of Hashem’s presence, the system would not give us free reign to do our thing – right or wrong.  So He hides and even makes everything look random just to help us.

The question is: Will Hashem continue to hide; or, when the redemption comes and the testing is over, will we experience Him as we did at Mount Sinai?  It is not well known that it wasn’t Moses alone that experienced Hashem, but the entire congregation of close to 3 million as well.  Why am I saying experienced Him instead of “heard Him?”  It is brought down that our five senses completely melded together to give us a complete experience.  The fact that “We heard the light and we saw the sound” lets us know it was a miraculous experience that is indescribable.  It was so scary that the Children of Israel cried out to Moses after Hashem disclosed only two commandments “we are afraid; you continue to tell us the commandments.”

What will actually happen in the future when Hashem is no longer hidden?   We get some insight from the Torah – the story of Joseph and his brothers.  I am not going to retell all the details (if you don’t know the story, you now have your first homework assignment – look it up).  The important facts are that Joseph’s ten brothers (Benjamin not included), out of jealousy, threw him into the pit then sold him into slavery.  Joseph, who was 17 years old, was taken down to Egypt where, through a series of events, he wound up as second in command to Pharaoh (that Yiddishe sechal – if you don’t understand this statement, get back to your homework assignment).  He saved Egypt and the rest of the world through his plan to horde food from a period of 7 productive years to feed everyone during the 7 years of famine that followed.  His own brothers came down to Egypt to take advantage of the available food at which time Joseph put them to the test.  They were not aware that this VIP of Egypt, now 39 years of age, was their brother.  They hadn’t seen him in 22 years, but Joseph recognized them.  His biggest concern was to find out if they had repented the sin of what they did to him.  When he realized the pain that his brothers were experiencing over their misdeeds, Joseph in a very emotional state disclosed to his brothers “I am Joseph your brother.”  We are told that at that point his brothers miraculously were given total insight as to what had transpired during the 22 years of separation and that Hashem was the One who had caused it.  The brothers were comforted to know that it had to happen that way to accomplish the will of Hashem (it was the forerunner to Hashem forming His chosen nation).   

Beautiful story, but why am I bringing it up here?  The Chofetz Chaim tells us that this story is prophecy of how in the end of days Hashem will say the words again “I am Hashem, your G-d.”  At that time all of history miraculously will become clear to us.  We will fully understand why everything happened the way it did according to Hashem’s will.  I snuck in the word “again” when I said that we will hear Him.  What did I mean by that?  This is the second redemption with the first one being at the time we were taken out of Egypt and brought to Mount Sinai.  This time will be a permanent redemption; after which Hashem will no longer be allusive to us.  We will be totally aware of His presence and all the pleasant changes that the end will bring.  We will no longer have an evil inclination since we will no longer need free will.  No more testing means no more temptation.  In other words, everyone will only want to serve Hashem with joy and love.  There is no decision to make when you have only one very pleasant choice.  There will be no more war, hatred, sickness or death.  At some future time, known only to Hashem, we will experience the resurrection of the dead, all our departed loved ones will return (there are some exceptions that will not but that’s another story).  The overall timeline as to what is coming up and when is very involved, but hopefully will be covered in a future blog post (I can’t wait).

I have given you even more reason to work on yourself before the “too late date.”  Take this seriously – the advantages to you and your loved ones are monumental.