Small tidbits and Sparks of wisdom

Why did God create the world? Ramchal reveals that the entire universe was created with one purpose: to bestow ultimate good upon man. But this good must be earned—and it must come from closeness to the Creator Himself.

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The Purpose of Creation
Adapted from “Derech Hashem” by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal)
Written in 1734, Padua, Italy

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1. The Goal of All Existence: Bestowing Goodness

The foundation of creation lies in God’s will to bestow good—not just any good, but the ultimate good. Since God alone is true and absolute perfection, only He Himself can be the source of that good.

All imagined perfection outside of God is limited and relative. Only closeness to God, who is inherently perfect, can be considered the real good worth pursuing.

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2. True Good Must Be Earned, Not Gifted

God’s wisdom dictated that for this good to be fully appreciated and internalized, it must be earned—not handed over by default or chance.

To this end, man was given free will and placed between perfection and deficiency, light and darkness. The goal? That he choose perfection through struggle and self-discipline. By doing so, he becomes worthy of closeness to God.

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3. Cleaving to the Creator Through Perfection

When man improves himself—refining his character and intellect—he begins to resemble his Creator. This resemblance draws him closer to God, and over time, the bond becomes stronger and more meaningful.

In Ramchal’s language, man “cleaves” to the Creator through acquiring perfection. He draws divine pleasure not as a gift, but as something he has truly made his own.

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4. All Perfection Derives from God

Perfection has only one source: God Himself. Just as a branch draws nourishment from its root, all true perfection stems from Him. And just as perfection is the result of God’s illumination, so deficiency is the result of His concealment.

To the extent that a person brings God’s presence into his life, he becomes more perfect. The further he distances himself, the more he descends into imperfection.

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5. Man’s Unique Role in Creation

Among all created beings, only man was given the task of choosing between perfection and deficiency. He alone stands at the crossroads, with the tools to climb upward or fall downward.

Man’s perfection lies in his intellect and positive character traits. His deficiencies are rooted in attachment to materialism, physical indulgence, and negative traits.

By choosing the path of wisdom and virtue, he earns real closeness to God—fulfilling the purpose of his existence.

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6. All of Creation Serves This Goal

Everything else in the universe is secondary to this purpose. The stars, the animals, the angels, even time and space—all exist to serve man in his mission to earn divine closeness.

Man is the central element of creation. Everything else is a tool to assist him. His success is the world’s success. His perfection is the fulfillment of all existence.

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Conclusion: The Destiny of Man

The Ramchal teaches that the universe is not random, nor is our existence accidental. Everything was designed so that man might receive the ultimate good—closeness to the Creator Himself.

But to attain that closeness, he must choose it. He must earn it. And through this journey, he transforms not only himself, but the entire cosmos.

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