The potential for redemption was given from the beginning of creation. As our Sages say regarding the verse, “And the spirit of G-d hovered over the surface of the waters” — “this is the spirit of King Moshiach.” However, this potential was not realized within creation itself. Rather, the task was entrusted to man, who must prepare the world for redemption. The question thus arises: why did G-d not create the world in a state of redemption?
On the one hand, G-d wants this to be a physical world. Yet, He wants the highest Divine light to shine within it. This is the meaning of the statement, “the Holy One, blessed be He, desired to have a dwelling place in the lower realms.”
Body and Soul
All creatures were created with body and soul at G-d’s command. When G-d said, “let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures,” all the creatures of the sea were created, body and soul together. The same was true of birds and animals of the land.
In the creation of man, however, we see a distinction between body and soul. First the body was formed and only afterward did G-d breathe a soul into him. Man’s body was created from the lowest element in creation — inanimate dust. His soul, however, came through a unique act of G-d, “and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” Regarding this, the Zohar says, “one who blows, blows from within himself.” In other words, the soul comes from the loftiest level, from G-d’s innermost essence, so to speak.
This contrast between man’s body and soul reflects the two opposite extremes. From the perspective of his body, man can be drawn toward the lowest aspects of creation. When a person follows the impulses of his body, he can descend far below the level of a wild animal, reaching depths of negative character traits that cannot even be found among animals.
On the other hand, man possesses a lofty soul whose nature transcends the limitation of creation. Thus, one can reach extraordinary heights of spirituality and goodness.
Elevating the World
The union of man’s body and soul is a constant G-dly miracle. Through this union, man is given the ability to direct the behavior of the lowly physical body according to the path of the soul.
The purpose of human life is that man, through his own conduct and way of life, should likewise unite “above” and “below”, bringing the loftiest holiness into the lowest physical reality.
This explains why the human body specifically had to be made from the lowest element. Since man’s purpose is to elevate the world and infuse it with holiness, all levels of the world had to be represented within him. Had man been created only from the higher elements, he would not have been capable of elevating its lowest levels. His body was therefore created from the dust, from the lowest level of creation, so that when he elevates himself, he also elevates the world from below.
It follows that the lowliness of the body is actually one of man’s unique advantages, for through it he can elevate even the inanimate level to holiness. When a Jew eats for the sake of Heaven and uses his physical body in the service of G-d, he elevates not only himself to holiness, but the entire world — from its lowest elements to its highest levels. In doing so, he prepares the world to receive the light of redemption.
(See Torah Or, Bereishit 3,4; Torat Chaim, Bereishit.)