A rabbi needed a new suit and went to a tailor in the village to have one made. The tailor promised it would be ready within one week but when the learned man returned to pick it up, it was not finished. "Three more days," he was promised. Somewhat perturbed, but with no other choice, the rabbi left the shop and came back again at the newly arranged time. Now the suit was indeed ready and it fit perfectly- with not so much as a single stitch out of place. Impressed by the work but still annoyed about the delays, the rabbi scolded, "It should have been done within the week."
"But rabbi," the tailor pleaded, "the suit that I created was flawless. Indeed God may have finished the world within in a week, but just look at the state it's in."
It is interesting that we say "Ha-motise lechem mi ha-aretz" over bread when God did not make the bread; He made the wheat but humans made the bread. This teaches that we are in a partnership with God. He provides the raw materials, it is up to us to make it perfect.
"But rabbi," the tailor pleaded, "the suit that I created was flawless. Indeed God may have finished the world within in a week, but just look at the state it's in."
It is interesting that we say "Ha-motise lechem mi ha-aretz" over bread when God did not make the bread; He made the wheat but humans made the bread. This teaches that we are in a partnership with God. He provides the raw materials, it is up to us to make it perfect.
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