ישעיהו, פרק מ״ג, פסוק ז׳

The divine promise of redemption rests on the deep connection between God and His creation. This future salvation is not a random event, but a carefully prepared part of a grand design. The primary approach among commentators is that those closely associated with God and identified by His name are the Israelites [מצודת דוד, שד״ל, אבן עזרא]. Some specify that this refers exclusively to the righteous among the Israelites, who will endure the hardships of exile and ultimately be redeemed [רש״י, רד״ק]. On the other hand, a broader perspective suggests a universal meaning, encompassing all of reality in both the higher and lower realms, as all of creation is inherently linked to God [מלבי״ם, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The ultimate purpose of this existence is to reveal God's greatness and bring Him glory [שד״ל, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא]. The Israelites fulfill this destiny by actively recognizing God as the Creator and guide of the world. By expressing gratitude for His actions and the sustenance He provides, they increase His glory in the world [רד״ק, צאינה וראינה].

The process of bringing this destiny to life unfolds through a sequence of three distinct stages: creating, forming, and making. In the context of redemption, these stages reveal that despite the bitter struggles of exile, God has already prepared every detail needed for His people's salvation [רש״י, מצודת דוד, אבן עזרא, שד״ל]. From the universal viewpoint, this means the entire world was designed and set in motion from the very beginning specifically to assist the Israelites in their eventual return from exile [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

These three stages also outline a step-by-step physical process. First is creation out of absolute nothingness, bringing raw matter into existence. Second is forming, which involves giving shape to that raw matter and structuring its parts. Finally, making represents the completion of the work, finalizing the process and providing the resources needed for ongoing life and nourishment [מלבי״ם, רד״ק].

Beyond the physical development, this sequence hints at a deeper spiritual reality mapping to four distinct spiritual worlds. The initial connection to God's name corresponds to the highest realm of Emanation. The subsequent steps of creating, forming, and making parallel the descending spiritual worlds of Creation, Formation, and Action [חומת אנך].