Rabbi Dr. Zvi Aviner
Noahidesevencommandments.com
Jan 2022
Ó copyrights
IDOLATRY-12/
Making Adam by Consultations
The IDOLATRY trial came to the world
along with the creation of Adam.
Today we’ll focus on how Adam was created
according to the miraculous Chapter One of Genesis
Is Moses’ presentation of Adam credible?
What could he know 3500 years ago?
Well, we’ve already seen how
amazingly accurate is Moses’ account of the Six Days.
How well does Genesis match our scientific knowledge.
If so, his words about Adam should also be amazingly
true and accurate, something you would not say about
any myth about Adam told in his time.
Let’s note that unlike any ancient myth,
Moses places Adam as the last creature made by G-d
after a long, ascending list of creatures
thereby concurring with science.
Now, Moses would tell us first a story about Adam
that CAN be supported by science,
then, having established his credibility in our eyes
he would adds his moral message about Adam: like
Who created us, How, and for What purpose.
.
So, what does Moses say about creating Adam?
But first, to appreciate what he is saying,
let’s see what other people in his time
told about the creation of Man.
1. Bronze Age Myths about Creation of Man
We know in details what people told about Man, in Moses’ time.
You can read about it in the internet, or in excellent books
such as Karen Armstrong’s book about the History of G-d
In short –
The Egyptians, among whom Moses grew up, said
that the first Man was born from the eye of the Sun-god Ra.
Ra, who ruled the Earth after a bloody struggle with other gods,
used to send out one of his eyes to execute various missions.
Once, the eye refused to return, so Ra sent out his two sons to fetch it.
The eye cried so much, that from its tears Man was born – the first Pharaoh
Now, we can imagine how much passion and awe
the story incited in the hearts of the ancient Egyptians.
They paraded in the streets for its glory,
chanting hymns and praising their god.
We can imagine how the Egyptian philosophers
saw deep meaning in every details of the story.
But one thing we are also sure –
the story has nothing to do with science,
nor does it tell anything about how we are made.
The story is a mere myth.
.
The Babylonians in Moses time.
said that Man was created by a warrior-god, Marduk,
who is born at sunrise, and dies at sunset.
Once in a while Marduk disintegrates completely
then resuscitates itself.
But once Marduk disintegrated badly,
and from its remains Man was made.
Again, we may sympathize with the story, clap our hands,
but it has nothing to do with science,
nor does it contribute to our understanding
how our bodies are built and for what purpose.
The Greek in Moses’ time said that
Man was created by a Titan named Prometheus
Who survived the war between the Titans and the Olympians gods
Prometheus created the first Man, but Zeus did not approve it
and took away the fire from Man.Prometheus then flew to the Sun
and brought Man a torch with the Sun’s fire,
And Man survived.
This story has prompted the Olympic games and the famous torch,
Yet it does not have any relation to science,
nor does it tell anything about how Man is built and for what purpose.
Now, let’s see what Moses tells us about the creation of Adam
2. Creating Adam According to Moses
When ELHM announced His Plan to make Adam,
He spoke in plural ,the first time, saying
“Let Us Make Adam in Our Form and Our Image.”
He spoke, we’ve learned, to whoever is mentioned
In the miraculous Genesis Chapter One.
Amazingly, here G-d, as a BUILDER,
sounds like a CEO of a company,
who assembles his board, or councilors
to discuss a new project: a humanoid.
In a modern company,
the CEO would first set up the purpose of making the robot,
the parameters for the robot’s actions,
how much Free Choice it would have
how smart it would be, what should it do,
and what it should not do
Then the CEO would ask each councilor in the room
to contribute his skills to the project.
One councilor would provide the best materials,
the other his scientific skills,
the other his artistic talent,
to make the robot smart, efficient and beautiful.
Amazingly,
Moses describes the creation of Adam in a similar fashion.
Thus, when ELHM spoke in plural, He assembled His Councilors
and to each one He said:
“Let Us make Adam in our Form and Our Image”
This way, each councilor would contribute a dimension,
a layer in Adam’s body and soul
How different this account is
from all the myth told in Moses time!
Who are ELHM’s councilors?
The Midrash says: He consulted with
whoever was listening, or
whoever was in the “room”, or
whoever is mentioned in Chapter One.
Thus,
ELHM consulted the councilors mentioned
In the Chapter before, like the Six Days,
And with entities mentioned later in the Chapter,
Between Adam and the Sabbath.
Risk of IDOLATRY
Moses wouldn’t tell us how we are build,
without also telling us his moral message.
When ELHM consulted His Councilors to make us,
Each Councilor provided an important layer in our body and soul.
Those were precious gifts, necessary for our survival,
But each one would be a source of IDOLATRY.
ELHM, the JUDGE, Gives and Takes, measure for measure.
In His Kindness His Provides, but in return He Demands.
Speaking in plural, He invited the Councilor to join in making Adam
yet as the same time, the very Consultation
rendered each Councilor a magic charm in Adam’s eyes
so much, that Adam would be forever allured
to worship them as G-d’s Partners,
or for their putative own Power
So, with whom ELHM consulted first?
Who could serve as a potential idol?
Oh, you will surely be surprise!