Why Divine Revelation Isn't as Simple as It Seems

A few decades ago, there was a seminar for those returning to faith, held on a Shabbat afternoon. The speaker had just wrapped up a two-hour lecture, substantiating and proving the revelation of Hashem to Israel at Mount Sinai.

Many in the audience were deeply impressed by the foundations and proofs presented, sitting in awe. Then, a voice came from the back row: "Rabbi, if it's so easy for the Creator to reveal Himself to the people of Israel, why all the complications? Why do you need to stand here and bring us proofs and philosophies? Can't He just appear again every now and then for a refresh? Where is He? Doesn't He see how many people don't believe? Why make it so complicated for them?"

The person next to the speaker chuckled out loud. Laughter echoed from other parts of the room. It seemed this remark had undone all the good impression the lecture had made. Honestly, I felt sorry for the rabbi. He had worked so hard on the lecture...

The rabbi's response surprised everyone. He smiled and said, "Even if Hashem were to reveal Himself personally to you, it wouldn't help."

The respondent chuckled again. "Come on, Rabbi, are those your excuses? If Hashem would reveal Himself to me, I'd run after Him."

The rabbi turned to the audience and asked, "How many of you participated in the morning Shacharit prayer today?" Several dozen people raised their hands. "And what did we read from the Torah today?" the rabbi continued, then answered, "For those who don't remember, we read Parashat Ki Tisa, which also tells about the sin of the golden calf.

"The golden calf incident is proof that a person always has free will. The Israelites not only witnessed the revelation of Hashem to the entire nation, but they also experienced the parting of the Red Sea, the ten plagues, and had their fill of manna that very morning... Yet they put it all aside to dance around a golden calf.

"True, they didn't deny everything. They couldn't because they had witnessed it. But there's always room for choice. They concluded that if Moses wasn't returning, surely Hashem's will was for them to have another intermediary.

"If Hashem were to reveal Himself to us, we’d be thrilled, but we would still have free will. The revelation ends. Five minutes later, I might encounter someone doing something wrong and feel it's a great mitzvah to rebuke him... or maybe not. I'd still have a choice to make.

"We must understand that even with faith itself, a revelation is not a magic solution. Suppose the Creator revealed Himself once every hundred years. Since several decades have passed since the last revelation, people without faith would claim it was something primitive people once believed in due to a lack of scientific knowledge. And the same would happen next time. People always consider those from a hundred years ago to be primitive, especially those for whom technology and progress are everything."

If that seminar attendee had a divine revelation, and even if he chose good and adhered to faith, how would he educate his children? How would he pass on this faith? They would ask the same question: It's nice Hashem appeared to you, but He hasn't to us. If He wants us to serve Him, we also invite a revelation...

How could anyone sin after a divine revelation? Hashem reveals Himself to us in many forms, and yet we often continue to sin. Did the open miracles that occurred here in Israel during several wars, where naturally we should have suffered immense casualties and terrible losses, lead everyone to repent? Certainly not. Everyone has their own free choice. Even those who were interviewed after the war and said "It was a miracle" didn't all return to faith. They moved on. Yet some saw Hashem’s hand in our world, in our generation, and they did return.

Ultimately, what matters is a person's choice of good, humility, and the ability to accept and acknowledge that there's something greater above us. A person who chooses a path of pride will not be swayed by any argument or revelation; he will continue to think he alone exists, with nothing above him.

One person at a social gathering shared an experience he witnessed: A platoon of soldiers was sleeping in the desert in sleeping bags. Early in the morning, whispers of horror were heard: On one of the bags lay a deadly viper, whose bite can immobilize a person quickly—and there's no antidote! "Don't move!" the comrades shouted to the unfortunate one trapped in the bag. Any movement could provoke the snake to strike. But what could be done? The snake seemed in no rush to leave...

The commander had no choice and declared that the platoon's sniper would have to shoot the snake. Are you crazy? the soldiers asked. No shot is 100% accurate; it could scratch the brain of the unfortunate soldier! (Have you heard of Wilhelm Tell?)

The commander hesitated. His soldier's life was in the balance. Suddenly, the religious soldier in the group said, "Wait, before you do that, let's all say the 'Shema Yisrael' together. What’s there to lose?" "Alright," muttered the commander.

The entire group began reciting "Shema Yisrael," and the moment they finished, the snake lifted its head as if with importance and slithered away to its hole!

The audience, listening to the story with bated breath, asked the storyteller: "So, did you return to faith after this story?" "Not at all," he replied, "the snake wasn't on me..."

Even when faith is the most logical conclusion, a person can dodge it with various excuses reflecting the state of their soul.

Of course, the Creator could have made us without free will, or managed our lives so there would be no room for choice. If someone wanted to sin—he would suddenly feel feverish and need to lie down. Wanted to travel somewhere prohibited—flat tire. But what kind of person would that make him? A good person? Certainly not. He would be a person who never overcame even the smallest desire. He would be a robot governed by flat tires and illnesses, like a trained animal. But we are humans, and our choice of good creates our spiritual level!