Back to the Beginning, Again...

      The traditional reading of the Torah was concluded last week with Moses' last words, in Deuteronomy 32. This Shabbat, the traditional [yearly] cycle of reading returns to Genesis [B'reshit, Genesis 1:1-6:8]. The Torah reading, coupled with the reading from Isaiah, provide a wonderful message of encouragement for us.

      On one hand, we see an awesome G‑d. We can't help ourselves but marvel at how the L‑rd, with just one phrase, "Let there be..." and all sorts of things came into existence: billions of galaxies and trillions of stars in them; billions of species of plants and animals. What we read in Genesis compels us to reject naturalistic evolution—this universe with all its diversity did not come into being through impersonal forces of nature.

      We need to remind ourselves of the account of creation—it should serve to remind us that the L‑rd who created this incredible universe is certainly powerful enough to take care of our affairs. We sometimes act as if "the L‑rd's hand is shortened that it cannot save," in the words of Isaiah 59:1. We need to, as well, look at the message found in the Haftarah and the Shabbat Psalm [8]. The L‑rd speaks very tenderly of His relationship with Israel—He took time and attention to specifically select Israel. He took time out to specifically select each of us—the fact that we are believers is no more a product of chance than was creation. We sometimes forget that and act as if we are deists [dee-ists]. The deists were a group of philosophers who taught that G‑d created the universe but then took a permanent vacation from being involved with it.

            We need to remind ourselves that the L‑rd is very much involved in our lives. When it is not so obvious, the L‑rd is acting like a Father who stands off to the side and watches while his child learns how to walk; but, He is always there. Let us remind ourselves that "faithful is He who has called you, who will perform it [His calling on our life]," I Thessalonians 5:24.