קהלת, פרק ג׳, פסוק י״ד

Humanity exists within a perfect, eternal, and unchangeable divine system. The vast gap between human limitations and God’s absolute power is intentionally designed to lead people to recognition, submission, and a profound awe of God. The primary approach among commentators is that the initial act of creation and the natural laws established by God represent absolute perfection. No created being can alter God’s work or step beyond the boundaries and measures He has set [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. A tangible expression of this boundary is found in the physical structure of the world. God intentionally left the northern wind desolate and incomplete; because no human can ever add to it or repair it, it serves as constant proof that God alone is the creator of the world [חומת אנך].

The profound difference between human efforts and divine actions is also evident throughout history. Redemptions brought about by flesh and blood, such as the Exodus from Egypt and the building of the first two Temples, were temporary and ultimately ended in destruction and exile. In contrast, actions that God will perform directly, such as the future redemption, the Torah He will teach, and the building of the third Temple, will endure forever [נחל אשכול]. Recognizing this human insignificance against the backdrop of eternity reveals the true purpose of reality. God did not create the universe for His own needs, but rather to awaken awe in the hearts of humanity and prevent people from sinning in secret [מצודת דוד, תורה תמימה]. The very sense of helplessness and lack of control that people experience when facing the forces of nature and the upheavals of life is what generates and sustains this deep reverence [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Although the framework of creation is permanent, God occasionally alters the natural order for the specific purpose of startling humanity and reawakening this sense of awe. This occurred when the ocean flooded a third of the world during the generation of Enosh, when the direction of the sunrise shifted during the generation of the Flood, and when the sun moved backward to shorten the day of the wicked Ahaz's death, thereby preventing his eulogy [רש״י, צאינה וראינה]. Even more routine occurrences, such as frightening thunder or unsettling dreams that steal a person's sleep and cause worry, are designed to straighten the crookedness of the human heart and inspire an awe of God [תורה תמימה]. Furthermore, human mortality itself is rooted in this principle. Adam was originally fit to live forever, but death was decreed upon humanity so that people would not mistakenly grant him divine honor, ensuring that true reverence is reserved for God alone [תורה תמימה].

Despite the absolute and unalterable nature of God’s actions and His complete knowledge, this reality does not negate human free will. On the contrary, the very fact that God designed the world specifically to inspire awe necessitates the existence of choice. In a world where everything is predetermined and individuals have no ability to choose, genuine awe of God simply cannot exist [תעלומות חכמה].