When G-d created the world, He created it out of a desire to have a “dwelling place” in this coarse, materialistic world; the lowest of all worlds. As G-d is a spiritual being, the physical world must be infused with G-dly light in order for Him to feel “at home” in it. Therefore, a world whose existence is predicated on being both physical and spiritual would have to maintain a constant and perfect balance between Chessed and Gevurah—a world where G-dliness would be neither excessively revealed or concealed.
Initially, one might think that a world created with Chessed would be the most euphoric and idyllic world imaginable. Yet were the universe to be created through the complete revelation of G-d’s presence, the world and all its inhabitants would be unable to remain in a materialistic state. Without the concealment of G-dliness, the world could only exist as a completely spiritual entity.
However, while the concealment of G-dliness may make the creation of physical entities possible, it also makes establishing a connection to G-d impossible. If G-d’s presence were totally concealed from us, we would lack an awareness of G-d and hence have no relationship with Him.
To create a world in which He is both concealed and revealed, G-d concealed enough of Himself to allow for our “independent” existence and free choice, and revealed enough of Himself to allow us to relate to Him.
One of the ways this revelation is shown to us is through miracles.
Nature Conceals — A Miracle Reveals
Through our physical eyes, the world seems to follow a natural order: the sun rises and the sun sets; seeds are planted and crops grow — all giving the impression that “nature” is running and operating the world.
Nature is the true concealment: You see the world but you don’t see G-d.
How can so many people deny the existence of G-d? Because the veil of nature conceals and distorts the truth. A person can look at the world and conclude that nature is an independent agent functioning without need of Divine input.
But when a miracle takes place, the “lie” is exposed. Incredible miracles such as the Jewish people effortlessly walking away from the evil clutches of Egyptian slavery, the Red Sea splitting for them and standing like a wall, the Egyptians drowning as they followed after them on dry land and the Sea immediately reverting to its original state reveal G-dliness in the world. Those who were there “saw” with their own eyes that G-d, and not nature, operates this world.
All miracles produce a similar effect. While nature’s function is to conceal G-dliness, the purpose of a miracle is to reveal it.
A miracle pierces the veil and gives us a glimpse of G-d.
The Body and Soul of Judaism
This will help us understand what the Baal Shem Tov and the other chassidic Rebbes after him communicated to us through the performance of miracles.
In Judaism, there is a body and a soul. The body consists of the technical, physical details — the do’s and don’ts — of Jewish life: lighting candles before Shabbos and the holidays, eating matzah on Passover, putting a mezuzah on the doorpost, donning tefillin every morning, refraining from eating non-kosher food.
The soul of Judaism is the G-dliness behind it all. Experiencing or sensing G-dliness gives us an increased awareness of, and love for, G-d. When the soul of Judaism is revealed, our feelings and emotional connection to G-d, our awe, deep belief, and trust in Him are enhanced. Through performing miracles, the Baal Shem Tov increased the revelation of G-dliness so that these aspects within ourselves would be strengthened and reinforced.
One doesn’t need a tangible or obvious connection to a tzaddik to follow the body of Judaism. A person can see for himself what is written in the Code of Jewish Law, learn what one should and should not do, and follow the rules on his own.
But it is mainly one’s connection to a tzaddik that helps a person develop the soul, or neshamah, of Judaism. Through this connection, a person’s love, awe and belief in G-d is stimulated, and through the miracles that he performs, a tzaddik helps reveal G-d’s presence in Judaism and in the world.
This, therefore, is the purpose of miracles. The miracles performed by the Baal Shem Tov and the tzaddikim that followed have been a powerful tool to reveal G-d’s unequivocal presence in the world.
In truth, just as a miracle comes from the hand of G-d, so too does nature operate through the hand of G-d. But because nature hides G-d’s presence, G-d’s role in world events is not clearly seen.
The ultimate goal of Creation is that nature should become transparent and that G-dliness become apparent. This is achieved through miracles. They shatter the false veneer of nature and reveal how G-d is the One directing every aspect of the world.
