Why Humans Matter in the Universe

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Many ponder the significance of humans in an immense universe. The truth is, one doesn't need to be grand to be important; the essence lies in being thoughtful.

Anyone who can think is undoubtedly more important than someone who cannot.

Hashem, blessed be He, possesses limitless intellect and crafted a universe of exquisite complexity. Many philosophers have called Him the "Supreme Intelligence," the source of wisdom illuminating all creation.

In this way, humans are closer to their Creator than unthinking stars or even billions of galaxies. Humans resemble their Maker through the unique abilities to intend, think, and create.

Therefore, the true measure of a person is through their soul, making them an intelligent and talking entity in a universe silent of thought and speech:

"Hashem formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7). Onkelos translates "living soul" as "speaking spirit," meaning humans alone were given the power of thought and speech. Rashi similarly explains: "A living soul – even animals are called living souls, but man's is superior, for he received intelligence and speech."

Even the highest angels lack independent thought. Only humans are free to create their thoughts, develop their traits, and build their character, as if they created themselves.

This conclusion holds significant implications for divine providence:

Sunlight illuminates the world but only enters houses with open windows, not dark basements. Maimonides uses this metaphor for divine providence among creatures. Hashem watches over all creation, but His personal guidance touches those who possess the intellectual capacity to recognize Him.

Needless to say, galaxies and stars, devoid of consciousness, cannot recognize their Creator, speak, or pray; hence they have no need for close and special providence. This is why the Torah was not given to celestial beings or stars, but to humanity.

The Torah reveals the intimate care of Hashem in the world, a testimony to the unique relationship with His most similar creations.

Thus, even a single individual holds more significance than the entire universe: "Therefore every person must say, for me was the world created" (Mishnah Sanhedrin, Chapter 4, Mishnah 5).

Many mistakenly think in black-and-white terms. They believe humans must be central to the universe or interacting with all galaxies and stars to matter, or they don’t matter at all. This is a misconception; the universe’s size or number of stars offers no indication of importance in the Creator's eyes.

People gaze at images of outer space, at immense galaxies that appear as countless tiny points, imagining Hashem out there, far from us, seeing us as mere specks.

It's evident that the human imagination works overtime, even when attempting to overcome it. Could one entertain such a ridiculous notion, as if Hashem were a giant with a large body floating in space among galaxies and stars, squinting through a telescope at Earth to view humans as ants? The mind and truth are far from this.

It is known that Hashem is infinite, bodyless, and formless, meaning without width, size, or dimension. He is neither large nor small, tall nor short, wide nor narrow, but exists equally in every place, with the tiniest atom as with the largest galaxy. Since Hashem is without a body, He does not value a large body more than a small one; He does not observe things from near or far, but knows them as they truly are, valuing them based on their true essence, not their external attributes:

"And Hashem said to Samuel: Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but Hashem looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Consider this, that Hashem knows our deepest and most hidden thoughts and feelings, for He resides within our minds and inner world. He does not only see us from outside, as an astronomer through a telescope at galaxies, or a biologist through a microscope at bacteria, but knows us from within.

In summary: Humans are the only creatures who think thoughts and are capable of serving their Creator with the free choice given to them by Him, thus we know humanity holds more importance to Hashem than any other beings in the universe, big or small.

In the next and final article of this series, we'll discover, with God's help, how the vast universe is like a palace and humanity as its guest.