🔥 Daily Chassidus: The True Meaning of ‘Anochi Hashem Elokecha’: G‑d Recreates the World Every Moment

The intent of the command of “Anochi Hashem Elokecha:”^[1]

In the first of the 10 Commandments we were instructed the words “I am Hashem your G-d.” Seemingly, the intent of this command remains to be understood, as how can the terms “I am” be used regarding G-d. Such terminology is usually reserved in reference to an item that contains a known image and picture, towards which one can point and say “this is it.” G-d, however, does not contain any known image and figure and no thought can grasp Him, as the verse states, “and you saw no image when G-d spoke to you.” Rather, the explanation is as follows: The knowledge that G-d created everything from nothing and that He is the creator who re-creates everything daily and gives everything life, is well known, and was already known even prior to the giving of the Torah. This belief was settled within the hearts of all Israel who are believers the son of believers before the giving of the Torah. This belief is consciously felt within one’s own soul, similar to the knowledge that he is alive due to the fact that he feels his own energy and movement. The same likewise applies regarding G-d, that the sight of the heavens and earth and everything that is in it, proves to the person G-d’s existence, as nothing can create itself. All this we know on our own without needing any command or instruction. Hence, what then is the novelty of the instruction of “I am Hashem your G-d” which we were told in the 10 Commandments? This is an instruction to believe that we are not just created one time or even daily by G-d, but that we are re-created by Him at every moment. This is the meaning of the name Havayah, which is a present tense term for creation, and its opening letter Yud alludes to the fact that creation occurs constantly, as G-d is constantly creating all of creation something from nothing.

[1] Likkutei Torah p. 45a-45b