Kabbalah Library
Zohar for All, Volume 9
And Abram Heard that His Brother Had Been Taken Captive – 1
22. “And Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive.” It is written, “I arose to open to my beloved, and my beloved had turned away and was gone. My soul went out when he spoke.” One should purify from one’s iniquities while the roads to repentance are open before him, before the road is blocked, as it is written, “Seek the Lord while He is found; call Him while He is near.” There are times when He is near, and there are times when He is far.
23. It is written, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in Truth.” This verse assists him. It means that it is written, “to all who call upon Him in truth.” And yet, it is written, “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him.”
24. There is an allegory about a king that a person came and shouted before him. The king listened to everything he said and did not reply to him. He shouted, and the king listened and kept silent. The person left.
25. The servants said to the king, “Lord, why did you not reply anything to that poor man?” He said to them, “I heard everything he said, and I listened to him, but he is indebted to me and is not worthy of his will being done, since he and his friends were told many times in my name not to be bad, and to come to me, and I will do good to them, but they did not look at me. Now, I do not look at them.”
26. So is the Creator, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon him in truth,” and hears them. But regarding one who does His will, it is written, “He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him, and He will hear their cry and save them.”
27. We learn from Moses, as it is written, “How shall it be known that I have found favor in your eyes, I and your people?” Moses said, “Lord of the world, we do not need an angel or a Seraph or a minister. How different will we be from the nations? They have a minister, and we have a minister. However, “so that we are distinct, I and your people,” and by what then will it be known that I have found favor in Your eyes, if not by Your walking with us, You and not a minister?
28. What was Moses’ opinion that he did not accept the angel? Moses said, “I know that Israel are indebted and an obstinate people. If they are given to an angel, especially to someone who is the quality of judgment, not a single relic will remain of Israel’s enemies.”
29. HaVaYaH is the quality of mercy everywhere. Moses said, “Lord of the world, You said that I have found favor in Your eyes. So now, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please would ADNI, who is the quality of mercy, walk among us?” since ADNI here is Malchut, which is one with HaVaYaH, and then He is the quality of mercy.
30. He asked him, “Why do you not want an angel?” He said to him, “Because it is a stiff-necked people, and You will forgive our iniquity and our sin and our inheritance. Israel refuse to listen and are bothersome. Because they sin, the angel may pass judgment and not forgive and pardon. But You are a merciful and gracious God; You have the ability and the power, and Your mercy are plentiful, and You will forgive our iniquity and our sin and our inheritance, which no angel has permission to do.
