Q&A: Providence and Nature
Providence and Nature
Question
I understand that according to the Rabbi’s approach, individual providence contradicts the laws of nature. And the Rabbi argues that in the past there was individual providence.
Does the Rabbi think that there were no laws of nature in the past??
Answer
There were, and there was divine involvement within them. Today there is no indication that there is such involvement.
Discussion on Answer
Every so often God freezes the laws and acts in their place. “Often” is a matter of definition. After all, even in the distant past there were not miracles every day, nor even every month.
So basically, according to your view, there was never constant providence, only occasional intervention. What about the section of “And it shall come to pass, if you surely listen,” which speaks about ongoing involvement?
What does it mean that there was divine involvement within them? Were the laws suspended often?