VaEschanan (3): Draw Him Down

אל תנסו את ה' אלקיכם
Don't test Hashem your G-d.

The simple meaning is that we are not supposed to say, "Just gimme a sign!" We are not supposed to ask, "היש ה' בקרבנו אם אין" -  Is HaKadosh Baruch Hu with us?

The Kozhnitzer Magid in Avodas Yisrael suggests a profound aspect to this command:

An earthly king needs a nation and a dominion. A King, marooned on a desolate island, rejected by his people can't be called much of a king. This, in the terminology of Chazal is called, אין מלך בלא עם - There is no king without a people. Hashem is our King. כי אנו עמך ואתה מלכנו. He is revealed in this world through us. He created a reality in which we make the Kingdom. (*see below in the Hebrew addendum)

But this is not intrinsically true. Hashem is objectively King; even without us. אחרי ככלות הכל לבדו ימלוך נורא. The Chidush is His Divine Will to create a system of אין מלך בלא עם - He chose to incorporate us into the framework of His Majesty. He wants us to reveal Him, even though He doesn't really need it.

The summation is as such: Hashem as a Hidden, Elevated King doesn't require us to be in the picture. מלך רם וניסה, but to be a Revealed King we need to cooperate. אין לנו מלך אלא אתה.

By being an Eved Hashem, I cause Hashem's Malchus to be revealed in this world. I let the world know 'כי לה' המלוכה. Hashem runs the show. But when I stray I cause the Malchus to retreat out of this world. I cease to be a conduit for its revelation. We want Hashem to be King in this world, not just Upstairs.

This is the meaning of אל תנסו את ה' אלקיכם. The simple meaning is not to test Him. But, as is well known, the root of תנסו is נס which means elevated. The command of אל תנסו את ה' אלקיכם is telling us not to let Hashem stay in a status of לבדו ימלוך נורא, rather to to reveal Him in this world: כי אנו עמך ואתה מלכנו. Don't cause Hashem to be a King only Upstairs. Reveal Him down here too.

Practical thought: Hashem created the world in such a way that He doesn't reveal Himself. He relies on me to reveal Him. How much time do I just wait for Him to show up and make things right? He chose me to be His messenger and rectify things for myself and others! Am I doing a good job with my actions and character to display godliness in the world?


ומטעם זה השכינה נקראת מלכות, שהשכינה מאפשרת את הבחירה כנודע. והמשמעות שיש בחירה היא שיש דבר- הנברא שבוחר. רק מכאן ואילך אפשר שיהיה נתפס לעין שיש מציאות זולתו כביכול - והמבין יבין