Q&A: A Human Being as a Grain of Sand Relative to God?
A Human Being as a Grain of Sand Relative to God?
Question
The Rabbi argues that after we have proven the existence of God, it is not logical that He would create the world without a reason, since He is an intelligent being. Therefore, there must be a reason for the existence of humanity.
But the following question arises:
Does the Rabbi think that every grain of sand in the world has meaning, a purpose, and a reason for which God created it?
Probably not. If so, who determined that there is no difference between grains of sand and human beings and humanity?
It may be that in our eyes a human being and humanity are important, but in God’s eyes they are not. Just as in the eyes of the grains of sand themselves they are important, but in our eyes they are insignificant.
And therefore it makes sense that all of humanity is like a single grain of sand in relation to God, and there is no necessity that it have meaning. For God’s magnitude is “immense”; this is supported by the immense size of the universe, which testifies to God’s infinite greatness. Therefore, it is likely that we are as important in His eyes as a grain of sand, and there is really no reason to assume that there is a reason for our creation (aside from our subjective view of ourselves).
Answer
I completely agree. Who said that each individual has a reason? There is a reason for the totality that exists. There are also discussions among the medieval authorities (Rishonim) about providence—whether it applies to individuals or to the species as a whole.
Discussion on Answer
My claim is that creation has a purpose. I’m not getting into the question of resolution. I don’t understand this discussion.
Even if creation as a whole has a purpose, there is no reason to assume that we are a significant part of it. The chance that we specifically are at the center of the divine plan is very small, almost zero—just as a single grain of sand has no special role in our own plans.
I don’t understand where this discussion is going. First of all, there is a reason. We are the only ones who have free choice, and apparently we are expected to make use of it. Beyond that, revelation gives us information that we do indeed have a purpose (to observe the commandments), so there is no reason to philosophically agonize over this question.
That’s why I said humanity—perhaps humanity as a whole too, relative to God, is like a grain of sand. That is something that logically follows from God’s immense greatness.