"I Have a Good Relationship with Hashem, He Will Forgive Me..." Really? 5 Points to Ponder

Hair

Let's examine the hair on our bodies, like the hair growing on the arm, for instance. If you look closely, you will see an incredible wonder...

Even if the hair is unusually dense, there is no situation where two hairs grow from one follicle! Each and every hair has its own unique follicle from which it grows. If two hairs grew from one follicle, it would lead to a skin infection.

Beyond the engineered and stunning appearance, hair has numerous functions: it assists in maintaining body heat; protects against the entry of foreign particles and bacteria through body openings—nose and ear hair, eyelashes, etc.; shields against solar radiation—scalp hair; diverts unwanted liquids and secretions such as sweat—eyebrows, which protect the eyes; and more.

(Photo: shutterstock)

On the other hand, look at your palms and soles: even if you are very hairy, you won't find hair there, not even a small one. How is it that hair doesn't grow there?

These areas, which help us walk, touch, feel, and explore—contain numerous nerve endings. They are essentially our "antenna." Hair would interfere with our ability to feel, especially at the fingertips, causing dysfunction. So, what prevents hair growth on the skin of the palms and soles? How is it different from the skin on the rest of the body? It turns out the epidermis (outer skin layer) of the palms and soles is thicker, thus preventing hair follicles from growing hair there.

By observing the human body, one can understand that it was created by a superhuman entity with infinite genius and immense power...

"Anyone Who Says Hashem Relents – Let His Guts Relent"

I have a friend who declares that he believes in the Creator, but he doesn't keep Shabbat or put on tefillin, and more. I asked him, "Don't you think you're mistaken, and that one day you'll have to account for it?" He responded with a half-smile, "Don't worry, I have a good relationship with Hashem, He'll forgive me..."

Friends, the Creator will not relent! Sometimes we think that when we reach the world of truth after 120 years, the Creator will "brush things off," willingly forgive us for our misdeeds, and overlook what we did not do according to His will. But this is incorrect thinking. We need to understand that truly "all our actions are written in a book," and an eye sees us all the time.

The Creator, who severely punishes the desecration of Shabbat, will not suddenly be lenient about Shabbat desecration. Why? For one simple reason: it wouldn't be just, and Hashem is righteous and fair. If He relented even once unjustly, His judicial system would collapse! This would make all the warnings written in the Torah, heaven forbid, a "bluff"!

This perception, as mentioned, is a great flaw in faith, and on this, the sages said: "Anyone who says Hashem relents – let his guts relent" (Bava Kamma 50a). Why? Because claiming that the Creator relents suggests, in other words, that He is cruel, heaven forbid.

For instance: A child wants to eat chocolate all day, and his father allows it. Is such a father merciful? No, he is cruel! He lets his child harm himself. The same is true with the Creator—if He relented and allowed someone to remain in his mistake, would that be merciful? Absolutely not. The Creator will not let someone live in error and arrive at the world of truth, only to then face the reality that he denied all his life... because eating chocolate all day is harmful!

Friends, the Creator does not relent because He does not give up on us, and He cares about each and every one of us! There is no avoiding facing head-on the mistakes and sins one has committed. There is no escaping due punishment, and anyone who thinks they can distance themselves from bad deeds, harm others, and believe repression absolves them of seriousness—is mistaken. Yet, the Creator gives us the opportunity to return to Him, as it says, "...when a wicked person turns away from his wickedness and lives" (Ezekiel 33:11).

Flexible Skin

Do you know what the largest organ in the human body is? The answer is... the skin!

Note that the skin has amazing features not found in other human tissues: it regulates body heat, evaporates sweat to cool the body, and creates insulation to protect the body from cold. The skin is sensitive to stimuli and pressure and is flexible enough to allow muscle movements and rotations of the arms and legs. The skin also protects against bacteria. Additionally, the skin has self-healing and repair qualities.

(Photo: shutterstock)

But the wonder doesn't stop here! The thickness of the skin varies in different parts of the body. The Creator designed the suitable skin for each organ or area. Want examples? Here they are:

The skin on the lips and eyes is delicate and sensitive, while the skin on the soles of the feet is thick and rough. Hand skin is less sensitive to heat and cold than the rest of the body parts. Why? To allow the hands to perform various tasks in hot and cold conditions. The skin on the feet is thicker. Why? To support the body's weight while standing and walking.

The skin grows and develops with the human body and is extremely flexible in movable body parts. Why? To allow perfect bending and movement.

The skin is attached to the body but not glued to the flesh. Why? To allow movement, which is a wonder in itself.

Only an entity with supreme wisdom and unlimited ability could create something so sophisticated...

Forgetting

Humans, considered the "crown of creation," sometimes forget things and events. I ask myself, how can it be that we forget? How does that fit with all the amazing systems within us? When a person "forgets," it seems, ostensibly, like a manufacturing defect, a malfunction whose occurrence is unclear. Could it be?

Yet, Hashem embedded the mechanism of forgetting within us designfully and intentionally, just as He did with the creation of the human body. Simple observation reveals that this mechanism is necessary for the person’s proper functioning and health maintenance.

Take, for example, a woman in labor. At that moment of endless pain, she vows never to endure such suffering again. But in practice, she will forget the immense pain she experienced and will have more children...

People affected by terrorist attacks—thanks to the mechanism of forgetting, they can continue with their lives.

Those who have lost their loved ones—at that moment, it seems life has stopped, that the sky has fallen on them, but thanks to this mechanism, they gradually return to their daily routine and optimal function, and even manage to rebuild their lives.

The great wonder is the forgetting of the shortness of our lives. If a person constantly remembered that their death day is approaching, they wouldn't function well.

Free Will

Some people argue that if a person committed a sin and immediately received punishment, or alternatively, observed a commandment and immediately received a reward, it would be clear to everyone that there is a Hashem, and it would be easier to start observing Torah and commandments. But they are wrong!

If this were reality, the person would not have free will, and none of us would sin. We would all repent out of fear! So, in His great mercy, the Creator gave each of us free choice to act as we see fit. This world is essentially a test for us, and whoever passes the test receives their reward deservedly.

If upon every sin a person was immediately punished, and for every commandment, immediately rewarded, the person wouldn't truly have a dilemma and free choice whether to keep commandments! So, on what would they deserve a reward? After all, they observe Shabbat because they are forced to, not because they truly wish to observe Shabbat!

(Photo: shutterstock)

Would you thank a machine programmed to serve coffee? Of course not, because that's how it's programmed—it has no choice. But would you thank your wife for serving you coffee? Certainly! Because she has free will and could have chosen not to do it. It is right to appreciate her and thank her accordingly.

Thanks to the faith a person has in the Creator, they will earn eternal life, which is life in the world to come. However, it is not accepted to reward achievements attained without effort; therefore, every person must undergo a test of faith and prove themselves. For this objective, the Creator granted humans the ability of free choice.

A person is not forced to believe, nor are they compelled to observe the commandments. A person believes and observes commandments because they choose to, out of their free will, relinquishing their personal desires and overcoming impulses that draw them towards a life without burden and without faith. This is true choice, for which they deserve and earn a reward.