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<a href="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2006/11/models-of-creation.shtml#comment-4474">Comment on Models of Creation by Jim Reid</a>
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<span>Posted:</span> 25 Jun 2007 11:08 AM CDT</p>
<div style="margin:0;font-family:Georgia,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-Serif;line-height:140%;font-size:13px;color:#000000;"><p>Rabbai said: “no one is suggestion that Hashem actually constricts Himself. That would be suggesting a change in an unchanging G-d, and a reduction of His Absolute infinity.” </p>
<p>I keep wondering how G-d limiting Himself is a reduction of His Absolute infinity. Is it possible that Hashem could exercise self limitation in a display of His freedom, autonomy, and sovreignty? Could this not also be a way of engaging humanity for the sake of humanity in humility and restraint? How many times G-d has restrained Himself from the utter destruction of humanity based on their blatant disregard for justice and righteousness. </p>
<p>In Hosea and Jeremiah there are great examples of Hashem’s restraint of working through anger to state how different He is from humans: “I will not act on My wrath, Will not turn to destroy Ephraim. For I am G-d, not man, The Holy One in your midst: I will not come in fury.” (Hosea 11:9)</p>
<p>Or has foregone wrath and turned it into an invitation to “glory in one’s devotion to Me. For I the Lord act with kindness, justice, and equity in the world for in these I delight.” (Jeremiah 9:23)</p>
<p>Or how He changed His action after speaking with Moshe at Sinai, proposing to destroy the entire people and raise up a new generation through Moshe, who refused the offer. The Lord “renounced the punishment He had planned to bring upon His people.” (Exodus 32:14).</p>
<p>Later, when Moshe asked to see the Lord’s face, the Lord granted only that Moshe could see His goodness, stating, literally, “I will grant the grace that I will grand and show the compassion that I will show.” (Exodus 33:19).</p>
<p>Is this not a perfect expression of sovreignty and self-limitation, restraint and freedom all at once–that G-d will not use all force or gentleness but carefully responds to the level of human necessity based on human capability (”for man may not see Me and live”). Certainly I could be argued that the limitation was Moshe’s incapability as being human. But for the sake of creation does it not also indicate that, if all is G-d, G-d “constricts” Himself for the purpose of making something not completely Himself, but wholly derived from Himself.</p>
<p>Even in math one can come to a solution that divides infinity into smaller units, though it is understood that each smaller unit is still infinity. If we can make reference to such a thing, how much more can Hashem limit Self without Self being infinite still. And doesn’t the teaching of tikkun olam base itself on G-d limiting (restraining) Self for the benefit of humans having a part in helping to fulfill creation in partnership with G-d?</p>
<p>Note: Perhaps all this is really not a big issue. And please forgive my ignorance, for I am a gentile, even a Christian pastor. But I really do appreciate Jewish thinking on scripture and merely look for dialogue, not for proselytizing, to clarify what I read. I try to use your terms in reference to G-d, out of respect to you. I am not trying to come accross as a “hip” Christian. I’m just trying to learn more about the G-d who stepped in my path and changed my life.</p>
<p>Jim</p>
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