Prophecy is a manifestation of a
person’s spiritual level
The Rambam defines prophecy as a manifestation of spiritual perfection.
HASHEM fills every particle of existence. We have difficulty experiencing
His presence because we are covered by layers and layers of physicality. A
Navi is a person of great spiritual accomplishments, who then spends years
purifying himself until the heavy cloak of physicality no longer blocks his
vision. He is then able to experience HASHEM’s presence. The more holy the
Navi is, the more clearly he sees HASHEM.
The only one human who reached the level of seeing HASHEM with total clarity
was Moshe. There never was, nor will there ever be, a person who reaches
that level.
So how can Rashi tell us that Moshe and Aharon were equals, when clearly
Moshe Rabbenu was on a higher Madregah?
Two systems for measuring the
greatness of a person
The answer seems to be that there are two systems for judging a person’s
greatness. One is absolute and the other is subjective. When measuring a man
based on the absolute standard of greatness in Torah and perfection, Moshe
is far greater than any other human ever created. He towered over everyone
including Aharon.
However, there is another system for measuring a person’s success–Based on
his capacity, and his potential, how much did he accomplish? Before each of
us was born, we were predestined to certain abilities and talents, a
particular level of intelligence, and an exact disposition and temperament.
At the end of our days, we will be compared to what we could have become.
How far did we grow? How much did we change? This system is subjective. It
is rated by how much of our potential did we fulfill?
Moshe may have well reached 99 percent of his potential, but so did Aharon.
In the absolute sense Moshe was far greater, and the Jewish people had to
treat him as such. He was the greatest human being ever. However, in the
subjective sense of reaching one’s capacity, Aharon was his equal and was
just as great. That is what the Torah is teaching by exchanging the order of
their names.
The Gra – The most painful
moment in existence
The Vilna Gaon describes the most painful moment in a person’s life. After I
leave this earth, when I stand before the Bais Din Shel Ma’alah, they will
hold up a picture for me to look at -- a picture of a truly exceptional
individual with sterling character traits, and Torah knowledge, who shows
intelligence, kindliness, and humility-- a person of true greatness who
brought outstanding goodness to the world . And they will say to me, “Why
didn’t you do what he did?”
“Me?! Little me? What do you want from me? Was I some kind of Gaon? Was I
some kind of powerful leader of men? How could I have accomplished those
types of things?”
And they will answer one telling and troubling line: “That picture is you.
Not you as you stand here now. Not you as you have lived your life. That is
you had you become what you were destined to be. That is you had you
accomplished what you were put on this earth for. That is you had you
followed the path for which you were born.”
That moment, the Gra tells us, is the most painful in a person’s life.
Because at that moment the truth comes crashing through, I understand what I
was capable of accomplishing. I clearly see the purpose of life, and
recognize what I could have achieved in my stay on this planet. And in that
flash of recognition, I truly understand the greatness of me and what I was
capable of.
I won’t be compared to you
The point is that when I finish my job on this planet, I will be judged.
However, I will not be measured in absolute terms - how much Torah I
mastered, how much Chessed I did. I won’t even be compared to others in my
generation. I won’t be compared to you, or to her, or to anyone else. I will
be measured by a far more just and exacting standard - me. How much of me
did I become? 50%, 60%, 80%? And that is who I am for eternity.
In this World the system is
absolute
In this World, we can’t measure a person’s capacity, and so we give honor
and respect based only on the absolute measure of the person. If a person is
functioning on the level of a great person, we are obligated to respect him
and treat him with honor.
When we leave this earth – the system
is subjective
However, when we leave this temporary existence, everything becomes clear. I
will understand exactly what it that I was destined to be. And I will also
know your capacity and what you could have been. There are no head starts –
no advantages and no disadvantages – just percentage of realized potential.
At that point in our existence, there will be individuals who appeared to us
as great in the physical world, but who will shrink dramatically, having
reached only 20% of their potential -- They will be spiritual pygmies. And
there will be many others, people we cast into the category of the
insignificant, who are actually towering giants who reached 85% of their
potential. Just as with Moshe and Aharon, it wasn’t the rank or position
that they held while alive that is the final determinant, rather it is their
subjective greatness in regards to who they should have been, so too it is
with us.
Who I am for Eternity
This concept has great relevance to us – both in the positive and the
negative perspective. It seems to be a natural tendency to compare ourselves
to others. “I am smarter than he. Better than she. Not as talented as
him...”
If my disposition is to favor myself - being kindly to me and tough on you-
I become inflated, over-confident, and full of myself. If my prejudice is to
be harsh on myself, then I am constantly finding others superior, and my
sense of self suffers.
The reality is that all of it is irrelevant; it just doesn’t matter. It is
true that at the end of my days I will be compared -- but not to you -- to
me. The only question they will ask in the Bais Din Shel Ma’alah, and the
only criteria that counts, is how far did I take my G-d given talents and
situation? How much of me did I become? And that is rank and station that I
occupy for eternity.
For more on this topic please listen to Shmuz #24 –Understanding Life
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