Higher Than the Angels or Lower Than the Animals
When a person recognizes the lowliness of such behavior, of trafficking in jealousy, he will simply become disgusted by it. This is what Chazal tell us in the Midrash: If a person merits it, he is told, “You were created even before the universe (for his neshamah indeed preceded the creation of the world).” If he does not merit it, he is told, “Even flies and roaches were created before you (for his body was created on the last day).’ (Bereishis Rabbah 8:1).
If a person lives with the right mindset, he is elevated above all of the creations of the world—even above the angels, because the angels don’t have the ability to wage war with the darkness, to emerge victorious and merit closeness to Hashem that emerges only through the darkness. And not only a tzaddik has this ability, but every single Yid is able to taste this elevated state.
And this is why the body of the person was created last, after all the other creations. Because if a person takes the incredible abilities and potential that he received and turns them in the wrong direction, he falls lower and lower, below all other creations—lower than animals, and even lower than inanimate objects. Because inanimate objects don’t drag the rest of creation down with them, while this person does—by arousing the worst instincts in others.
It is important to understand that it is the nefesh that craves the jealousy of others. The nefesh of a person has the need to feel special. And when a person is in a low state, he will draw this feeling from the worst places... from arousing jealousy in others, getting them to want what he has. He has a deep need for this... for others to transgress לא תחמוד. This is the lowliness that the nefesh sinks to when it turns to the wrong side. If a person is in an elevated state, he will draw the feeling of being special from real sources.
This we must know: If a person weren’t so elevated, he wouldn’t be able to sink so low. The reason a person can sink so low is that the nefesh cannot sit still. The emotional strength, the kochos hanefesh, are so strong in a person. And if he doesn’t channel them in the right direction, he will automatically turn to the wrong side. The question is if we grab the reins of our potential, and channel it to follow the right course.
