Q&A: God and Self-Image
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
God and Self-Image
Question
Hello Rabbi, I have a question that’s been bothering me a bit, and I’d be happy if you could answer me.
In a number of places in the Torah, the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to do something, and then Moses persuades Him by saying, “What will the nations say?” Why does God care what people say about Him? And even if He does care, why should that change His decisions?
Thank you.
Answer
If He didn’t care, He would not have created the world, nor would He have commanded against desecration of His name.
Beyond that, part of the motivation for His actions is to magnify His name in the world. So if something does not magnify His name, that is a reason not to do it.