There are two major forces within Creation which create an eternal tension. On the one hand is the infinite will of Hashem which is limitless. The other, is the process of constriction (Tzimtzum) which places boundaries on the expansion of His will.
Our Sages teach us that Hashem initially wished to create the world with the force of Din (limitation, constriction), but He saw that the world could not exist in that manner and utilized his trait of רחמים (Rachamim, lit. mercy) which balanced the limitations of Tzimtzum with the boundless Godly will to allow the world to exist.
This balance can exist because these two seemingly opposing forces are really working in concert. The limitations on God's goodness exist only to actualize that goodness. They are not there to negate His goodness. Creation cannot stand before infinite good and it is only the limitations that enable us to receive His good.
It is like the ozone layer and other parts of the atmosphere which make the sunlight safe (or at least safer) for mankind. In their absence the sun's rays would be overwhelmingly damaging to us. The limitations on the sun's rays are what give us the ability to benefit from the sun. The same is true for the limitations on the manifestations of God's goodness.
Our Sages teach us that Hashem initially wished to create the world with the force of Din (limitation, constriction), but He saw that the world could not exist in that manner and utilized his trait of רחמים (Rachamim, lit. mercy) which balanced the limitations of Tzimtzum with the boundless Godly will to allow the world to exist.
This balance can exist because these two seemingly opposing forces are really working in concert. The limitations on God's goodness exist only to actualize that goodness. They are not there to negate His goodness. Creation cannot stand before infinite good and it is only the limitations that enable us to receive His good.
It is like the ozone layer and other parts of the atmosphere which make the sunlight safe (or at least safer) for mankind. In their absence the sun's rays would be overwhelmingly damaging to us. The limitations on the sun's rays are what give us the ability to benefit from the sun. The same is true for the limitations on the manifestations of God's goodness.
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