The belief in a G-d Who created heaven and earth is certainly not an exclusively
Jewish one. In fact, most people in the world except for atheists believe that the
world had to have a Creator. This belief is based on simple logic. A world so complex
and marvelous must be the result of a Supreme Being and couldn’t be the result of
any spontaneous or accidental Big Bang, chance mutation, and unintended twist
of fate or evolutionary process. Can spilling ink in a haphazard fashion form an
encyclopedia? Can a computer be the result of some chance mutation over billions
of years? Most people find such theories illogical, irrational and absurd – and rightly
so!
Yet the search for the Creator of this magnificent universe eluded people. And so
when people were unable to see or find the Creator of this marvelous universe, they
came up with many different theories. Some decided to worship some of the great
powers that are important to life and without which the world could not exist. Some
worshiped the sun while others worshiped water. Many believed that by man praying
to them they would bring us blessings. Some people in fact believed in the existence
of many gods. Others believed that since G-d had given man the power to rule over
others, this meant that he too possessed godly powers. The more powerful the man
and the greater strength he possessed, the more he demanded that others worship
him. This is the concept of “el” which stands for strength and power. Pharaoh who
possessed control over the waters of the Nile River (as a result of Yaakov’s blessing)
demanded that he too be worshiped. Nimrod who was the greatest of all hunters also
made himself into a deity. Those who possessed power and might claimed that G-d
had given them these powers so they could use them to rule the world and therefore
turned themselves into deities.
It was our forefather Abraham that believed and spread the concept of only One
G-d. He also believed that the sun was no different than a light bulb that has no
power of its own and receives its energy from the power company. Praying to the
sun is no different than praying to a light bulb to give off more light. When Nimrod
tried to prove to Avrom that he had total control over his fate and could burn him
in a blazing fire at will, G-d came to his rescue and reconfirmed Avrohom’s belief in
G-d. Thereafter, Avrahom received a prophesy directly from G-d telling him to leave
his fathers house etc.
Yet even the concept of one G-d is defined and described differently by many
religions. The Jewish definition of G-d can best be understood by carefully studying
the two morning prayers of “Adone Olam” and “Yigdal.”
Twice each day we Jews reaffirm our allegiance to our one and only G-d by
reciting the Shema Yisroel. The second of the Ten Commandments also forbids us
to worship any of G-d’s creations whether it is the sun, an angel or man. It is to
G-d alone that we must direct all our requests. The sun is no different than a large
light bulb and has no power of its own to grant man’s requests. This is part of the
Ten Commandments which forbids serving any being or object is considered idol
worship.