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Where was G-d in Virginia Tech? |
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G-d loves us -- and to love somebody means letting that person be himself or herself. The name for that gift which He gave humankind so that we could be ourselves is free will. Without that freedom to choose, we would be no more than puppets acting out a script not of our choosing. G-d wanted more for us. So G-d gave us the free will that could make us greater than angels -- or more evil than Satan.
Yes, sometimes there are things that happen in the world that profoundly upset the Almighty. But He allows them to happen nevertheless. Indeed He must often restrain Himself. For if G-d were to always interfere to prevent us from going against His will we would never be capable of really doing good, because we would simply be powerless to commit its alternative!
The very fact that G-d gave us a commandment, "Thou shalt not murder" shows that we have the choice to obey or to violate it. G-d warns us not to and reminds us that the consequences of such an act will be very severe, but if a person decides to murder another human being, he may very well succeed. It is not G-d's will. It is the evil choice of man. But it is G-d's will that man's choices bear fruit even if death is the outcome.
Consider the first murder in history. It was Cain the wicked who killed Abel the righteous. And where was G-d? G-d was the heavenly observer who permitted the free-will act that infuriated Him - and then declared the divine punishment.
And what about poor Abel? Where was justice for the victim?
The problem would be unanswerable if this world was the only place reward and punishment could find expression.
The wrongs of this earth are rectified by a Ruler who has infinity to undo the effects of crimes committed during a lifetime. Martyrs who have suffered on earth merit eternal blessings. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, those who died before their time may be granted another opportunity at life -- just as Abel returned once more as none other then Moses. G-d is powerful enough and certainly wise enough to find ways to set right the unfair consequences of man's misuse of free will.
So G-d was in Virginia Tech. And it should give us some comfort to know that G-d also wept with us. His silence was far from indifference; it was absolutely necessary by the very nature of the great gift He shares with us -- the freedom to act in accord with our will.
Faith allows us to empathize with the Almighty as He mourns the consequences of His willingness to let us choose our actions. And faith gives us the strength to move on in the knowledge that those for whom we mourn will enjoy G-d's everlasting kindness and compassion.
By Rabbi Benjamin Blech, AISH.COM
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