How God’s Names Create Our World: Understanding Divine Power in Everyday Life
The ancient concept of Divine Names offers profound insights into how our world operates. Each of us has at some point wondered why the world around us seems so material and independent. Where do the laws of nature come from? Why do things exist on their own? Answers to these questions can be found in the ancient wisdom of Kabbalah, which explains the relationship between divine and material worlds through simple and understandable images.
Divine Names: Two Forces of Creation
At the foundation of creation lie two main Divine Names: Havayah (יהוה) and Elokim (אלהים). The first name represents the power of revelation and unlimited kindness, the second — the power of limitation and concealment. Interestingly, the numerical value of the name Elokim exactly matches the word “nature” (הטבע) in Hebrew. This is no coincidence!
The name Elokim acts as a protective screen that hides the constant divine creation, creating the illusion of nature’s independent existence. Without this concealment, all creation would instantly dissolve into its source — just as light completely disappears within the sun itself.
Why We See the World as Material
Imagine looking at the sun through darkened glass. The glass not only protects your eyes but also allows you to see the sun itself, which would otherwise be too bright. Similarly, the Divine Names act as filters for divine light, making our existence possible.
This concealment creates the impression that:
- Earth and sky exist on their own
- Natural laws work automatically
- The world develops according to its own rules
In reality, every moment of time, all creation is newly created from nothing through the divine word. Just as sunrays constantly emanate from the sun, so too all creations continuously receive life force from their Source.
Soul and Body: An Imprecise Analogy
Many compare the relationship between God and the world to the relationship between soul and body. But this comparison is imprecise! Let’s understand why:
- Soul and body are separate in their sources. The body is formed from material elements (from the seed of parents), not from the soul.
- The body grows not only thanks to the soul, but also thanks to the food that a person consumes.
- The soul does not create the body from nothing, it only animates already existing matter.
In the case of God and the world, the situation is completely different. All creation:
- Is completely created from absolute nothingness
- Is constantly maintained by the divine word
- Completely depends on a continuous flow of divine energy
Divine Names: Understanding the Unity of Opposites
Most amazingly, these two seemingly opposite forces represented by Divine Names — revelation (Havayah) and concealment (Elokim) — are actually completely unified. “Havayah is Elokim” — this fundamental statement means that even the force of concealment is a form of kindness.
Why? Because without this concealment, the world simply could not exist. Limiting the light is not the opposite of kindness, but kindness itself, making the existence of the world possible!
Practical Application of This Knowledge
Understanding the unity of all Divine Names changes our perception of life:
- Realization of true reality — everything that exists completely depends on continuous divine creation.
- A new view of difficulties — even limitations and obstacles in our lives serve a higher purpose and contain kindness within them.
- Overcoming illusions — the ability to see the spiritual source behind the material world.
When a person deeply understands that “there is nothing but Him” and that everything that exists is constantly being created anew, their attitude toward the world and their own life changes radically.
Key Lesson for Our Lives
The phrase “Havayah is Elokim” teaches us to see the unity of opposites — not only in divine attributes but also in our everyday lives. Limitations and difficulties often turn out to be necessary for our development and growth.
The next time you encounter an obstacle or limitation, try to see in it not only a restraining force but also a manifestation of higher kindness, creating space for your unique existence and personal growth.
Afterword: The text of this article has not been approved by any sage, Torah scholar, or rabbi and is merely a simplified adaptation of the sacred text for general understanding. For comprehension of true wisdom and a deeper understanding of the original text, you should refer to the sources.
This and all other article texts of the Mega-Charity.Org resource express only the personal opinions of the authors who compiled them. They are intended only for general and superficial understanding of the real sources of wisdom. References to which are provided.
