LEV1106 In how many ways should a person hold himself to an accounting before God? I say that there are a multitude of ways in which to make such an accounting. Of these, I will point out thirty. They can clarify to a person what he owes God, if he will bring them to mind and undertake to reflect on them and remember them always. Reflecting on compliance and noncompliance. … 6. A person should make an accounting when he senses in himself an inclination to rebel against the Creator and break His covenant. He should reflect and meditate on all that he has perceived, with his senses, of the world's roots and branches, of its simple elements and complex beings, of that which is above and that which is below--how they all exist by God's word and keep His covenant. Has he ever seen any of them deviate from the restraining bond of God’s service, rebel against His word, or break His covenant? Imagine [what would happen] if one of them were to violate God's covenant: man would cease to exist! For example, if one of the elements were to violate God's covenant and change its nature, or if the earth were to leave the center and the waters of the ocean were to flood out, bursting their bounds and engulfing the Earth's surface-- would a man be left on the face of the earth? Even more wonderful is the case of one's own physical organs. If they were to violate God's covenant [with them] vis-a-vis man-- for example, if organs that are naturally mobile were to become immobile, or those [naturally] immobile were to become mobile; or if the senses did not supply man with what they were appointed to bring to him--then his constitution would break down, his structure would come apart, and his control fail. How, then, can a man not be ashamed to violate his Creator’s covenant in a world that has not violated God's covenant in his regard; when he does so with the help of organs and limbs-- appointed by God to serve and support him--that have not violated God's covenant in his regard? Consider the following analogy. Let us say that there was a king who ordered a group of his servants to ferry one of his ministers, with the utmost care, over a mighty river to a certain place at a fixed time. The ling then ordered the minister to do certain things for them, in that situation and at that time. The servants followed the king's order in regard to the minister, but the minister neglected to execute the king’s order in regard to them. One of the servants then said to the minister: “You who neglect the king's command, do you not fear that one of us will act toward you as you have acted, and will disobey the king's order to take care of you, as you have disregarded his order concerning us? [Are you not afraid that] you will fall into this mighty river and die a cruel death? Correct your error by repenting and begging forgiveness; because the king ordered us to neglect your safety in the event that you neglected his order concerning us.” The minister awoke from his negligence and rectified his error. And you, my brother--reflect [for a moment]: Has any one of your organs or limbs ever failed to comply with the Creator’s instructions concerning you, when you wish to use it? Surely you know that the Creator has stipulated in His faithful Torah that if you serve Him, everything in the world will be at your disposal and command; but if you defy His word, everything will defy your will. This is clearly stated in parashas Im B’chukkosay Telechu [“If you follow My laws,” Vayikra 26:3ff.) and in other passages.
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