Why Did Hashem Create Such a Vast Universe?

Yaron from Petah Tikva (32) asks: "Why did Hashem create such a vast universe? Distant galaxies, stars we cannot see, and so forth. I was asked this and did not have a clear answer."

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Hello and blessings Yaron, and thank you for your interesting question.

Consider it this way: if there were only a few stars, how could we feel that the one who created the universe is truly infinite and eternal? In my humble opinion, this is one of the reasons why all people in the world have ceased to believe in idols with a physical form, and today people from all over the world believe in an infinite-spiritual Hashem, knowing how grand and marvelous our universe truly is. In a universe so vast, one cannot imagine an idol sitting in the heavens throwing lightning bolts, but only infer an eternal and infinite Creator who fills all worlds: "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth, says Hashem" (Jeremiah 23:24).

The mere fact that no person can count the stars or even imagine the universe's size - this is the strongest scientific evidence for Hashem's infinite power. If His creation cannot be evaluated and measured, all the more so can we not imagine the One who created the entire universe. For the Creator is certainly greater and more mighty than all the things He created. The entire universe exists only by His constant will.

See how the world is moving toward the generation of redemption, about which the prophets said that everyone will recognize Hashem—from the smallest to the greatest. Even today, the universe proves to us, and the stars testify before us as billions of witnesses, that the Creator who made all this has no body or image of a body, and cannot be attained by physical comprehension, and He is more powerful and wondrous than all existing things, for only the true infinite could create such a vast and astounding universe. As it is said in the Bible about the stars: "Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power" (Isaiah 40:26). Through observing the universe, we can learn how great and wondrous our Creator is.

But the question that truly bothers us about the vast universe is what is the importance of the tiny human being within such a vast universe?

This too is a misguided perception of Hashem. Hashem is not limited to dimensional perception like a human. The Creator is present in every place and every time, from the smallest particle to the largest galaxy; from His perspective, there is no difference between small and large. Even you are composed of billions of cells, each more sophisticated than the design of a city like New York. So what if there are billions of stars in space? Most of the Earth is also sea, and even on the continents, there are about 28 million insects for every one person! And yet, the human is more important than all these, because the human is the only being in the universe capable of understanding that there is a Creator, capable of seeking Hashem and praying to Him, capable of choosing between good and evil.

Even if you see a wealthy father who built a hundred-story building, you would still believe that his tiny baby sitting in a stroller is more important to him than all the buildings and all the treasures, and he wants to give them all to his son one day. The human has been given a divine soul which our sages called "a part of Hashem from above," therefore the human is more important than all worlds, for "You are children to Hashem your God" (Deuteronomy 14:1).

The very fact that humans seek after Hashem and are interested in Him proves to you that Hashem is interested in them.

For the Creator made the thinking human who chooses between good and evil. The Creator gave humans the intellect to recognize His existence, and instilled in humans the need for the meaning of life. From this, we see that the Creator wanted human beings to apprehend His existence and fulfill His will. In doing so, the Creator demonstrated to us that humans are the crown of creation. The Creator also gave humans the power of choice between good and evil, which shows that He tests them. These foundations are so clear that all nations and all cultures have reached them, for these truths are within us.

I invite you to search online for the words "A Fatal Conversation," and enjoy a strengthening booklet about the purpose of existence. Good luck!