With this, we can understand a wonderful yesod. If by wearing Tzitzit, a person declares that he is the servant and Hakadosh Baruch Hu the master – Hakadosh Baruch Hu says: "Do you know how I will reward you? When Mashiach comes, I will make you the master and give you servants – midah k’neged midah!" Therefore, the positive and negative Mitzvot are specifically tested with Tzitzit, because it is the symbol of the test of servitude for a person!
Now we can approach and answer the questions we asked, and from here, a wonderful window will open for us in our Avodat Hashem. Tosafot explains (Bava Batra 119b), the wood gatherer had intentions L’Shem Shamayim – for the sake of heaven. Bnei Yisrael had said since it was decreed upon them not to enter Eretz Yisrael due to the sin of the spies, they are no longer obligated in the Mitzvot. To prove them wrong, he stood up and desecrated Shabbat so that he’d be killed, and others would see and sanctify the name of heaven. Although he intended L’Shem Shamayim, Chazal call this “a sin for the sake of heaven”. He indeed committed a sin, but he had no enjoyment from it. And what was the result? Chazal say that he brought destruction upon Bnei Yisrael, because the Gemara says (Shabbat 118b) – If Bnei Yisrael would observe two Shabbatot properly, they would be immediately redeemed, and the wood gatherer came and desecrated the Shabbat!
It turns out, therefore, that the claim against the wood gatherer was essentially – “Who told you to make this calculation? Hakadosh Baruch Hu commanded the observance of Shabbat. You have a question?! Go to Moshe Rabbeinu and ask!” The same idea can be found in the sin of Adam HaRishon. Chazal tell us that Adam HaRishon went and ate from the Tree of Knowledge; would it enter our minds that a person created by Hakadosh Baruch Hu would be interested in eating a piece of tree from the Tree of Knowledge?! If the ministering angels do not understand what his sin was, how can we, mere flesh and blood, understand?! But one thing is written – Shlomo HaMelech says (Kohelet 7:29): 'Only look at this; I have found that G-d made people direct, but they sought many calculations.' Rashi explains that Hakadosh Baruch Hu made Adam HaRishon yashar – perfectly upright, knowing good from evil, but when Chava was paired up with him, the term to describe singular man became plural and they were called ‘they’. They sought many calculations – plans and designs of sin.
The Arizal explains that Chava said to Adam, "The fact that you don’t commit sins is not wisdom, because you have no Yetzer Hara – no evil inclination!” It’s like scoring a goal when there’s no goalkeeper in net! It’s no great accomplishment! True wisdom is when there’s a goalkeeper in position, yet you still manage to score. As the Ramban...
