One time a foreign dignitary was sent by the Emperor to visit the Bais HaMikdosh and report on what he saw there. The Kohanim showed him around and he was very impressed. When they entered the courtyard where the Mizbei’ach stood, the Kohanim explained that there is always a fire which Hashem sends from Shamayim that never goes out. Impressive indeed. A short while later he saw a Kohen take up some wood to light on the Mizbei’ach. Incredulously he asked why the Kohen was doing this if there was fire sent down by God Himself? They answered that although Hashem takes care of the fire we do it as well.
This answer stunned and shocked him and he declared that the Jews are crazy and deserve to die. The A-Mighty himself lights a fire and we think we have something to add to this? Does he need our help? This is similar to a fly on the wall of a locomotive pushing with all his might claiming he is helping to move the train down the tracks, says Rav Shimshon Pincus. Ridiculous!
Is he right? Yes and no. Everyone understands that when a 3 year old child “helps” his Daddy lift a heavy object the father has lots of Nachas from his kid even though this was only a show. The father didn’t need the help and the son didn’t really provide any help for that matter. So too Avinu SheBaShamayim has lots of Nachas when we help him although he doesn’t need our mitzvos.
A non-Jew doesn’t believe that the creator of the entire universe who is beyond the realm of the physical, can have an intense love or any relationship with a mere mortal. We know that Hashem pays attention to every fine detail of each and every Jew’s life but to them this is simply incomprehensible. They think that we are brazen and arrogant in our beliefs. Each and every day for the past 2000 years they try to prove to us that no one is watching over us.
The purpose of creation is “Hashem Echad”. Hashem will universally be declared King over the entire world. To reach this goal Hashem has made us his emissaries. Through our mitzvos and Maasim Tovim the big day will finally come. If you think about this, it is a big joke. Sure I can do some mitzvos that will help out the situation but Hashem has the power in one second to make the seas dry, the heavens fall, the mountains crumble, and all the nations to believe in His power. He could make a far greater impact on the achievement of the ultimate world peace than the meager contribution I am capable of. Why hire a bunch of little kids with plastic shovels to spend a lifetime digging a tunnel through a mountain when you own heavy machinery that can blast a hole through the mountain in no time?
The world is speeding towards the end of time and the Geula will shortly be upon us iy’H. Because of Hashem’s love for us he has given us little plastic shovels and asked us to dig a little. This way he can hold us high and like our proud Tatty he will declare “Yankele, Moishele, Sorele, ALL helped me bring Moshiach”.
He wants to make us the hero with relatively little effort. He encourages us. “Push little fly push!” he cries. Hashem is giving us an amazing opportunity. Don’t be a fool. Don’t drop the shovel.