Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth
Havayah – The Eternal?
Our faith as believers in Havayah should like that of all Jews be based on truth and able to withstand any legitimate challenge. It is therefore important that we create a solid intellectual foundation for G-d’s ecclesia of called out believers, and everything we teach should be based on Scriptural evidence and logic, and not on fables or emotions. We know that Torah is truth, but what is logic? Let me first explain, what it is not. Someone (it could have been a lecturer of mine) explained it this way more than forty years ago: ’If it takes a week to walk a fortnight, how many apples in a bunch of grapes. He gave us an answer by saying a paw-paw this (forming the shape of a paw-paw with his two cupped hands) color.’ Obviously, it is not logical to compare apples with anything else, unless you are perhaps comparing the nutritional values of the different fruits. With that in mind let us continue to consider the question asked at the beginning.
When Moses spoke to G-d in Exodus 3: 13, he said: “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, ‘The G-d of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?”G-d identified Himself to Moses saying in verse 14, “I AM WHO I AM”, and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.’” The words ‘I AM’ essentially means that G-d is, was and will be forever (eternally), as may be understood from verse 15, as follows: ‘And G-d, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, Havayah, the G-d of your fathers, the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, and the G-d of Jacob, has sent me to you. ‘This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.’”’
Think for a moment, G-d reveals Himself as the creator of everything that exists. If He created all there is, then He must have existed before they did. G-d continues to exist today and has been around eternally. One of His promises is to give us eternal life in His coming Kingdom. Could He give us something that He does not have? Would we exist forever in the future and G-d cease to exist? Obviously not! G-d will exist forever, meaning He did in the past, is presently and will exist in the future. Think again for a moment, can something come from nothing by itself? Could an empty garage suddenly become filled with a motor vehicle without a cause? Could empty ‘space’ suddenly be filled with stars, planets like earth, animals, plants and human life, an orderly universe where an instant before there was nothing? Definitely not! Something must have preceded it. Creation could not take place without something causing it!
The universe is not only a figment of our imagination – it is real! Modern science describes the universe in mathematical terms. From the tiniest speck of dust to the motions of stars – all can be described by means of mathematical equations. Yes, our universe has so perfectly been constructed that it can be represented by numerical relationships. The lack of confusion in nature proves that the material world exists. The mathematics is based on substance which exists, as much as a house built upon its foundation. How can anybody claim that only the mathematics exists – and that its foundation does not? A house built upon sand may only stand for a short time, but a house that does away with its foundation has already tumbled. The universe is definitely not an illusion, and the lack of confusion does not make it less real.
If the universe existed eternally, it would require no Creator. But is it possible that the universe existed eternally? Both the Scriptures and Science attest to its beginning. The Scriptures insist that everything was created as described in the event of the creation in Genesis 1 & 2. Science anxiously assigns dates associated with creation or to creation itself. According to the scientists our moon, has slowly moved away from the earth by a few feet annually. The moon is presently about 239,000 miles away from earth. If we could turn the clock a few thousand million years back, the moon would be very close or even joined to the earth. That means that creation must have taken place less than a thousand million years ago, with the moon being created some distance away from the earth.
Other methods used for dating creation give similar enormous statistics. It is known that Uranium and other radioactive components disintegrate at a constant rate. By comparing the amount of disintegrated material with the original amount of material which existed, a date for its creation can be determined. The earth’s age is according to this method estimated to be several thousand years old – and not eternal! The same method of dating is applied to meteorites reaching earth from outer space, containing small amounts of radioactive material. These measurements prove without a doubt, that creation could not have been earlier than several thousand million years ago. In other words, there was a beginning. Even though the world of man was created about 4000 BCE the heavens and the earth were created at an earlier time. They were created before everything else, as stated in Genesis 1: 1, ‘In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth.’ We know for a fact that in the very beginning G-d created the earth in harmony and order, since we are told by Rav Shaul in 1st Corinthians 14: 33, ‘for G-d is not a G-d of confusion but of peace, as in all the ecclesia of the saints.’ It is clear therefore that the condition we find the earth in, in Genesis 1: 2 where it is described as ‘formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep’, refers to a time after the original creation was destroyed. In fact, this is confirmed in Isaiah 45: 18, as follows: ‘For thus says Havayah, who created the heavens (He is the G-d who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), I am Havayah and there is none else.’
When G-d created the universe at the very beginning, it was perfect and extremely beautiful, so much so that the angels shouted for joy, as we read from Job 38: 7, ‘When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of G-d shouted for joy?’ Right from the start Havayah planned to create beings that could become His ‘helpers’; He planned for these helpers to eventually become like Him, in every respect. Over time they would have His character reproduced in them by His Set-apart Spirit. Initially G-d started by creating spiritual beings called angels. They were free moral agents, with the ability to choose between right and wrong, and for many years they followed G-d’s instructions in detail. However, one day, a third of them followed the archangel Lucifer in rebellion against G-d, when he decided to take over the throne of G-d in the third heaven. They fought against the other two thirds of the angels, who remained loyal to G-d, but were defeated and thrown down to earth, where they are now living as fallen angels or demons. These angels, who are spirit beings, sinned with full knowledge and as a result could not change once they decided to follow a life of wrongdoing. We read consequently from Isaiah 14: 12 – 14, “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! (13) But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of G-d, and I will sit on the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north. (14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” This universe-wide rebellion by Satan and his demons resulted in the destruction and chaos of the surface of the earth and the rest of the planets, to the condition we find the earth in before Havayah re-created it in Genesis 1: 2.
The heavens and the earth spoken about in Genesis 1: 3 – 28, are the atmosphere (or sky) of the earth. These were formed from darkness and a state of waste to order in a period of six literal days. The creation of the heavens containing the sun, moon, stars, and planets (including the earth) occurred at a time prior to the second recreation of the earth. No date for the original creation is given in the Scriptures. Even so, it is not important to a believer’s way of life when exactly the material heavens and earth were created. But to G-d, whose existence goes back eternally, a thousand million years would not be even a fraction of His life. If a study to determine the age of the universe prove without any doubt that creation was two or three thousand million years ago, it would only add to the glory of G-d. It would further bring us to the sober awareness that the threescore and ten years allotted us, are but an instant in the life of our Creator. It was for this reason that David wrote in Psalm 8, asking in verses 3 & 4, ‘When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that Thou dost take thought of him? And the son of man, that Thou dost care for him?’ Like it did with David, a study of the stars can teach us to be humble and bring us closer to Havayah the Creator of the universe. David often looked up at the sun, the moon and the stars and was so awe-inspired by it that he wrote several Psalms singing songs in honor of G-d, one of which is found in Psalm 19: 1 & 2, as follows: ‘The heavens are telling of the glory of G-d; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.(2) Day today pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.’
Let us therefore take another look up into the heavens to see the esteem of G-d. Numerous stars are visible to the naked eye of those of us blessed with perfect vision. However, uncountable billions of stars become visible through a powerful telescope. But many more stars lie beyond the range of our best telescopes – to many for anyone to dare and make an estimate. The problem is that we look at the heavens from man’s point of view. We struggle to estimate the stars in a small section of the universe, but if for example we could view the heavens through G-d’s eyes, we would possibly understand what David wrote in Psalm 147: 4 & 5, in this way: ‘He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. (5) Great is our Master, and abundant in strength; He understands is infinite.’ Here we see that G-d understands the infinite. This agrees with 1st Kings 8: 27, as follows: “But will G-d indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built!”It is for this reason that man’s mind cannot understand G-d, as He cannot be defined, nor can He be bordered. Because we are finite human beings, we cannot understand something which is limitless. The number of stars that G-d created is a finite number. Numbers go on forever, but the stars do not. Yet, all the about seven and a half billion people on earth could not count all the stars in their entire lifetimes. On the contrary we read from Matthew 10: 29 & 30:“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
The estimate given for the number of stars in any encyclopedia, if it should contain such information, is not the total number in the universe, but only the nearest visible ones. No man knows for sure, how far out G-d’s creation extends, as witnessed in Proverbs 25: 2 & 3, in this way: ‘It is the glory of G-d to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter. (3) As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.’ According to astronomers, all stars appear to move away from our vicinity of the universe. The ones further away also appear to withdraw the fastest. By calculating the distance and speed of the withdrawal of these stars, we can conclude that they all left our approximate position an estimated two thousand million years ago. Consequently, another measurement of the heavens confirms a remote but definite moment in the past when the universe was created.
The vast distances between stars point to the age of the universe in yet another way. These distances are determined in terms of the length of time it requires light from them to reach our earth. For example, the sun needs about eight and one third minutes to travel 93 million miles to earth. The light from the star’s nearest to earth, needs between three and four years to reach us. However, the light from the star’s farthest away, photographed thus far is estimated to have left them a thousand million years ago and has only reached us today. We are therefore able to conclude that such distant stars were then in existence. Even though we are unaccustomed to these figures, the conclusion from them is especially important. Firstly, the science of the heavens proves the need of a Creator; Secondly, the creation could not have happened before a definite time – which some scientists estimate to be about four million years ago; and thirdly the creation seems to have happened at least a thousand million years ago.
It is therefore clear that the heavens are not eternal. There is not one single method of calculation that we are able to depend on. However, together they are all pointing to an ancient universe – old in years, but still created at a definite time in the past – possibly between one and four thousand million years ago. If we compare this with the inspired record in the Scriptures in Genesis 1: 1, in this way: ‘In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth.’ We notice that no time is given for creation, it simply states a definite occurrence that took place at a definite time. The date is not given, but is hidden for man to search out to the glory of G-d. But how does all this prove the eternity of G-d? It becomes very straightforward when we understand that someone or something must be eternal, and since the universe is not eternal, there is something separate from it that must be. The universe includes everything that exists, except for G-d who shows himself as the Creator of it. He must therefore have been in existence eternally in the past!
At this point we have revealed from the Scriptures and from creation that our universe is not eternal. It had to have a creator and a time of creation. G-d existed before it. But who created Him! Things that have not always been, require a creator. But G-d is eternal. He has always been. Do you need a creator for a being who has always existed? I do not believe so! As mentioned before, the difficulty to understand eternity is a human problem. We deal with finite things which we can see and touch, such as dollars and cents, years, miles, gallons, etc. We count, measure, and estimate in units, constantly arriving at a certain quantity. Eternity being without a beginning and an end, cannot be limited to a certain number of years. Similarly, to what numbers can go forever, so does G-d’s life go into both the future and the past. All things that are finite, which have been brought into being, require a creator. But things which have always existed do not require a creator. The universe was created, and at a certain time in the past. Consequently, the creation is temporal and required a creator. Since everything in existence except this Creator is temporal, it is logical to conclude that Havayah our G-d is the only One who is ETERNAL, as is also confirmed in Psalm 90: 2, as follows: ‘Before the mountains were born, or Thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art G-d.’
To clarify this further we quote directly from the Tanya, in this way: ‘The term “world” can be applied solely to [that which possesses] the dimensions of space and time, “space” referring to east, west, north and south, upward and downward, and “time” referring to past, present and future. Only with regard to entities that are subject to the limitations of space and time can the term “world” be applied. All these dimensions of space and time have no relation to the holy supernal attributes of the World of Atzilut, because those attributes are infinite. As explained earlier, the attribute of Chesed is infinite; so, too, are the other attributes in the World of Atzilut. Hence, by definition, they are not at all subject to the limitations of space and time.
Only concerning the attribute of [G‑d’s] Malchut is it possible to say that He is King “Above without end and below without limit,” and likewise in all four directions. This means to say that G‑d is King of all creatures, from the very highest to the very lowest. Thus, when speaking of Malchut, it is in order to use terminology that has some relationship to space, such as “higher” and “lower”. This indicates that Malchut itself has some relationship to the aspects of time and space. The same is true concerning the dimension of time, i.e., that the attribute of Malchut is in some small measure related to time, as it is written:1“G‑d reigns, G‑d has reigned, G‑d will reign.” i.e., G‑d’s reign is related to present, past, and future — the dimension of time. Thus, the life-force of space, and likewise of time, and their coming into being from nothingness, and their existence as long as they shall exist, are from [G‑d’s] attribute of Malchut, and from the Name of Adnut.Now, since [G‑d’s] attribute of Malchut is united with His Essence and Being in an absolute union, as will be explained,space and time which are created from Malchut are therefore also completely nullified in relation to [G‑d’s] Essence and Being, just as sunlight whilst it is still within the orb of the sun is nullified in the sun.
This means to say: As long as Malchut still exists in a state of complete union with G‑d’s Essence and Being, space and time — the source of worlds — as found within the attribute of Malchut are utterly nullified relative to G‑d.This state is called “higher-level Unity.” It exists only before the descent of Malchut through various tzimtzumim in order to vest itself in the lower worlds, thereby creating them and providing them with life. It is then that the worlds enjoy the state of “higher-level Unity,” because from the perspective of the pristine source of Malchut and Adnut which brings about their existence, their actual creation is as yet inconceivable, inasmuch as Malchut and Adnut are still in a state of inclusion within their source. Consequently, space and time “exist” there in the same manner as the light of the sun “exists” within the sun — in a state of complete nullity.And this is the [meaning of the] alternation of the [letters of the] Name of Adnut with the [letters of the] Name Havayah.When the letters of one Divine Name are alternated with the letters of another, the Name whose initial letter appears first is the dominant one, the second Name being intertwined and encompassed by it. If, for example, the first letter is the initial of the Divine Name that designates Chesed and the second letter is the initial of the Divine Name that designates Gevurah, the revelation of Chesed will predominate.One speaks of “the alternation of the [letters of the] Name of Adnut with the [letters of the] Name Havayah” when referring to Malchut and Adnut while they are still united with G‑d’s Essence and Being, which are too lofty to serve as a source for created beings.The eventual source of the existence of created beings is Malchut and Adnut. Nevertheless, since the Divine Name Havayah is dominant — i.e., since Adnut is submerged within Havayah — all “existence” is completely nullified in relation of G‑d’s Essence and Being, just as sunlight is devoid of all identity within the sun.The Name Havayah indicates that He transcends time, that “He was, is, and will be — all at the same instant,”Past, present and future meld into one within the Name Havayah, indicating that Havayah transcends time,as is stated (2in Ra‘aya Mehemna on Parshat Pinchas);and likewise [the Name Havayah] transcends space, for [Havayah] continuously brings into existence the whole dimension of space, from the uppermost level [of space] to the lowermost level [of space], and in the four directions.
Clearly, the Divine Name Havayah transcends time and space. Malchut and Adnut, however, do bear some relation to time and space. Nevertheless, since the letters of the Name of Adnut are interspaced within the letters of the Name Havayah, the dimensions of time and space are completely nullified in relation to G‑d. This is the state called yichuda ila‘ah, or “higher-level Unity.”Now, although G‑d transcends space and time, He is nevertheless also found below, within space and time — even as space and time, i.e., the dimensions that constitute the world, exist (in their own eyes) as independent entities;that is, He unites with His attribute of Malchut, from which space and time are derived and come into existence.This refers to Malchut after its descent through the various tzimtzumim. However, even this level of Malchut is united with G‑d. Thus, G‑d who transcends time and space is also found within time and space.The reason created beings are unable to perceive Him is that Malchut conceals His Presence; they thus regard themselves as possessing independent existence, subject to the limitations and divisions of time and space.And this is yichuda tata‘ah, or “lower-level Unity,”
In this state, created beings are not totally nullified in relation to their source, the attribute of Malchut, inasmuch as it allows them to be aware of their own existence.(1[meaning] the intertwining of [the letters of the Name] Havayah within [the letters of the Name of] Adnut).In this instance the Divine Name Havayah is intertwined and vested within the Name of Adnut; i.e., Havayah is concealed and submerged, while Adnut is revealed and predominant, allowing for the creation of time and space.I.e., His Essence and Being, which is called by the Name Ein Sof, “the Infinite One,” completely fills the whole earth temporally and spatially.
For in the heavens above and on the earth [below] and in the four directions, everything is equally permeated with the Ein Sof-light, for [G‑d] is to be found on the earth below exactly as in the heavens above,for everything — including both heaven and earth — is within the dimension of space, which is utterly nullified in the Ein Sof-light,which clothes itself in it through [G‑d’s] attribute of Malchut that is united with Him.In relation to the Ein Sof-light which totally transcends time and space there exists no difference between heaven and earth; G‑d is found equally in heaven and upon the earth. This being so, why are time and space not totally nullified?[They are not nullified] because [G‑d’s] attribute of Malchut is the attribute of tzimtzum and concealment, [whose function is] to hide the Ein Sof-light, so that it will not be perceived by created beings,so that the existence of time and space should not be completely nullified and there will be no dimensions of time and space whatsoever, even for the lower worlds.I.e., it is only because of the concealment effected by Malchut that time and space exist for created beings.’ Think about it!
The footnote against ‘I AM’ in the New American Standard Version reads: ‘Related to the name of G-d, YHWH rendered LORD, which is derived from the verb HAYAH, to be’.