Why Wait for Prayers?
The verse in this week’s Torah reading says (2:5) that although all the plants were created during the six days of creation, the plants hadn’t grown yet because it hadn’t rained and man didn’t exist yet to work the land. What connection is there between man being created and rain? Rashi explains that God was waiting for man, who understands the need for rain, to pray for the rain, in order to bring rain. Why did God have to wait for someone to pray for the rain?
Prayer: Our Connection to Spirituality
This leads us to a fascinating insight from the Ramchal in understanding the concept of prayer. The Ramchal explains (Derech Hashem, part 4, chapter 5) how prayer is a whole system which God instituted in the makings of the world. God created man with an intelligent mind to use to make decisions and guide his moves in life. However, when a person’s mind gets absorbed in earthly matters, it may cause a person to decline in his spirituality. Therefore, one must turn to God in prayer every day. When a person focuses his mind on God, he comes close to God and becomes elevated.
Praying on a regular basis counters the draw of the material matters he is involved in, and makes sure his mind stays elevated in spirituality. And the bounty a person ought to receive is dependent on this. In order for one to receive his blessings from God, he must first pray to God. When a person uplifts his mind by connecting to God with prayer, he makes himself eligible to be blessed by God. The more a person turns to God for his needs, the more he is able to receive from God. Because God wants to constantly shower us with success and blessings, therefore, God has made it that we constantly need His help so that we are always connecting to him through prayer.
With this we can understand why it didn’t rain until man was created. In order for the blessing of rain to be bestowed upon the world, it was necessary to first have someone pray for the rain.
The More We Pray, The More We Get
This wasn’t just something which happened once in the beginning of history. This concept affects every person every day. God is waiting to shower us with blessings, and the more we turn to Him, the more we can get from God.
A man once approached Rabbi Avigdor Miller and expressed his concern about business being slow lately. Rabbi Miller advised the person to pray. “I do pray,” said the man. Rabbi Miller was not satisfied and said, “I’m not talking about praying during the usual services. I mean throughout the day you should be constantly turning to God and praying in your own words for his assistance.” The man took his advice to heart and began doing so. A little while later, he reported that indeed, his finances started picking up.
Incorporate Prayers and Open the Spigot!
Prayer is not a service reserved only for designated times in the synagogue. Prayer should be a way of life. Incorporating the concept of prayer into our daily lives transforms and elevates our whole being. And when we become people who naturally turn to God for help, we open the spigot of blessings. God has plenty of blessings to bring upon us. It’s up to us to open that spigot.
Every challenge we encounter, and every time we are faced with a need, small or big, is another reminder for us to turn to our Creator, who is waiting to shower us with a bounty of goodness. Whether we are walking in the street, driving or waiting in line, these are all opportunities to take a few moments to connect to God. The more we turn to God in prayer, the higher we raise ourselves, and the more blessings we will bring into our lives.
By Rabbi Yitzchok Aryeh Strimber torah4every1@gmail.com
