Famous Jewish philosophers had conflicting views about prophecy and divine providence. People can accept or reject their views. Many Jews are convinced that Jews are judged by their behavior, not by their beliefs. They can believe what they want as long as they harm no one.[1]
The Popular View
Most people feel that prophecy was a miraculous divine communication. God is constantly involved in watching out for and protecting the welfare of people. Famous Jewish thinkers who held this commonplace view include Nachmanides and Yehudah Halevi.
Ibn Ezra, Maimonides, and Gersonides
There were philosophers such as Abraham ibn Ezra, Maimonides, and Gersonides who were convinced that prophecy is not a communication from God but a natural event. Prophets were men and women who had superior intelligence, and using their understanding, they warned their people about the wrongs they were committing and the possible dire consequences. These philosophers also rejected the notion held by nearly everyone that God knows what is happening to people and sometimes comes to their aid. What did the three philosophers say, and where do we find their views?
Does God know us?
As I said, most people understand that God knows the details of what is happening to people and helps people when they need help. This is called “divine providence.” This is not the way that ibn Ezra (1089-c.1167), Maimonides (1138-1204), and Gersonides (1288-1344) understood this concept. They were convinced that God knows the laws of nature that God created or formed, but God does not know the details of life on earth.
In his commentary to Genesis 18:21, ibn Ezra writes: “for it is the truth that the All (namely, God) knows every particular (only) in a general manner, but not in a particular manner.” In other words, God knows the laws of nature that God created or formed but does not know how humans and animals use them.[2]
This is the view of Maimonides[3]: divine providence only extends to the level of the species. God does not help people. “I hold that divine providence is related and closely connected with the [human] intellect because [what we call providence] can only proceed from an intelligent being.” This is also the view of Aristotle.[4] In a word, people cannot depend on divine help. God created humans with intelligence. Intelligence is the divine providence. People can help themselves by using their intelligence. The more intelligent a person is and the more that people use their brains, the better the chances they will be able to help themselves.[5]
Gersonides[6] also understood that divine providence exists, but it doesn’t work the way most people think. Divine providence is using the human intellect that God gave humans.
Does God communicate with humans?
Ibn Ezra, Maimonides, and Gersonides were also convinced that prophecy is not a divine communication but the result of the use of a higher-than-average intelligence. Ibn Ezra stated this in his lengthy commentary to Exodus 3:15 and 20:1. Maimonides wrote: [7] “If a person, perfect in his intellectual and moral faculties, and also perfect, as far as possible, in his imaginative faculty, prepares himself in the manner which will be described, he must become a prophet; for prophecy is a natural faculty of man.”[8]
Joseph ibn Kaspi (1279-c.1340) states[9] that Ibn Ezra and Maimonides accepted this doctrine and did not believe that the prophets were speaking of anything other than events shortly. It is for this reason, ibn Kaspi wrote that Ibn Ezra and Maimonides agree that there is no rational basis for interpreting the Hebrew Bible to refer to the messiahship of Mohammed[10] or Jesus.[11]
Gersonides states[12] that the cause of prophecy is the Active Intellect,[13] which only has knowledge of earthly matters in a general manner. It is the recipients who are able, depending on their intellectual ability, to translate and apply the available information to specific situations.
Conclusion
It is clear that contrary to most people, the three philosophers were convinced that God is not immanent, ever-present in all worldly affairs. God is transcendental. God created the laws of nature and then left them to function as is, giving humans the power to make changes, think for themselves, and control their own lives. God does not know the details of human events and cannot discuss them with a prophet.
These three, and many like them, disagree with those who face terrible calamities, relax, sit back, smile, and piously say, “All is good. God is in control.”
[1] This is also how the US Supreme Court defined the free exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution; the government may not infringe upon a person’s behavior except when there is “a compelling state interest,” and may never infringe upon their beliefs. Sherbert v. Verner (1963).
[2] See also his commentary to Exodus 23:25, 26
[3] In his Guide of the Perplexed 3:17.
[4] This is not the view of Nachmanides and Yehudah Halevi, as mentioned above, or others such as Shem Tov ibn Falaquera (circa 1225-1291), who maintained the traditional view that providence extends to human individuals. See R. Jospe, Torah and Sophia, Hebrew Union College Press, 1988, pp. 164-171.
[5] This is also the view of Abraham ibn Daud in HaEmunah HaRamah 97-98, among others.
[6] S. Feldman, The War of the Lord, JPS, 1987, vol. II, pp. 139-209, and Gersonides’ Commentary on Job, chapters 11 and 42.
[7] In his Mishneh Torah, Yesodei Hatorah 7:1-5 and his Guide of the Perplexed 2:32.
[8] M. Friedlander translation, page 220. See also Guide of the Perplexed 2:36-48, and A. J. Reines, Maimonides and Abrabanel on Prophecy, Hebrew Union College Press, 1970.
[9] In the Introduction to his Torah commentary.
[10] Maimonides Epistles, ed. M D. Rabinowitz, Jerusalem, Mossad HaRav Kook, 1959, p. 144.
[11] Ibn Ezra’s introduction to the Torah.
[12] See S. Feldman, Gersonides, The Wars of the Lord, book two, summarized on pages 267 and 268.
[13] The medieval notion of a force surrounding the earth.
These three, and many like them, disagree with those who face terrible calamities, relax, sit back, smile, and piously say, “All is good. God is in control.”
Piously; do you mean foolish state such nonsense about themselves and God?
They are fools and deserved to be shamed when rape occurs and they do nothing and let God handle it.
They are mistaken but we shpild not call them fools.
When God told Noah to build an ark, Abraham to leave for Canaan, and Moses to free the Israelites, how do you understand those parts?
I understand that Maimonides would say Noah, Abraham, and Moses made the decision to do what they did after seeing what was happening around them.
The Jews saw the Philistines approaching and cried out to Samuel to pray to G‑d to save them. The prophet offered up a burnt sacrifice to the L-rd and invoked His aid for the people. As the smoke was rising from the altar, the Philistines approached in battle array; but a terrific storm burst over their heads and discomfited their army. They were put to flight, and the Israelites pursued them to the southern frontier of the land and utterly routed them. The Hebrews now easily reconquered all the towns which the Philistines had previously taken. Indeed, the Philistines were thoroughly subdued and weakened and did not dare to attack the Hebrews again during the lifetime of Samuel.
Do you believe it was weather by coincidence or Samuel praying to G-d?
We do not know exactly what happened. Biblical stories frequently exagerate to emphasize its message.I understand that Maimonides would say that God did not cause a storm to frighten the PHilistines. The Israelites were emboldened by seeing Samuel make the offering and with less fear fought the Philistines and beat them.
I agree with the ibn Ezra, Maimonides, and Gersonides that prophecy is a natural event. Prophecy is simply a higher level of intelligence. I also agree with ibn Ezra that God knows the laws of nature but not the details. God knows the forces of nature.
This must be true because if God knows everything we’re going to do, even before we do it, it makes our actions meaningless. God cannot know the future because the future doesn’t exist yet and God does not know things that have no existence. God cannot do the impossible. God can’t make a square-circle (for example).
I struggle with the notion that how can we have free will if God knows what your going to do before your going to do it, and still is in some way shocked that you did the wrong thing.
This may seem that I am limiting God but it’s really not limiting God because there’s not anything to be known (and God can still know everything that there is to be known but not the future). Even Maimonides said that God doesn’t know what your going to do before you do it.
In summary, the future does not exist because we haven’t created it yet. So the future cannot be known because it doesn’t exist. If not even God knows the future, then how can we ever say the prophets knew? Thus, prophecy is not a communication from God but a natural event.
I agree with you.
This may seem that I am limiting God but it’s really not limiting God because there’s not anything to be known (and God can still know everything that there is to be known but not the future). Even Maimonides said that God doesn’t know what your going to do before you do it.
But if this statement is true does God have intution and can God be wrong?
I do not think that God can do wrong things,
Did G-d communicate to Jeremiah to warn the Israelites to repent from their idol misdeeds, etc. or Babylon will destroy Israel
I understand that Maimonides would say that Jeremiah undertood this by using his intelligence,
When we use the active intellect ur referring to our brain power to analyze situation such as deciding whether or not to study math hw to get into college. Or when to decide to save a woman from a rapist or call the police dependong on how strong you are
Yes, I do not believe there is such a thing as the active intellect. I agree with you that we perform these acts by using our intelligence.
I understand that the Active Intellect is a medieval notion of a force surrounding the earth. I suppose I do not believe there is an Active Intellect either but I like the idea. Do you plan to write an article on the Active Intellect?
I have no plan to write on it. I donot think it exists.
God doesnt intervene. We humans have our free will to decide. We cant rely on god to fix human errors or mistakes
I agree with u rav. When anything happens we must analyze it with our intellect. We must make sure that we choose the best path. We cant rely on God.
Thanks
Divine providence is using the human intellect that God gave humans; Gersonides states that the cause of prophecy is the Active Intellect, which only has knowledge of earthly matters in a general manner. It is the recipients who are able, depending on their intellectual ability, to translate and apply the available information to specific situations.
Consequently and with respect to the citations of your very important reflections, am in favor or Gersonides,
Am also in support of ibn Kaspi , who wrote that Ibn Ezra and Maimonides agree that there is no rational basis for interpreting the Hebrew Bible to refer to the messiahship of Mohammed or Jesus.
In this sense, we have to improve our prayer and study (of Torah learning) to search actively and ethically the protective shield of HaShem. Many thanks for your profound and timely thoughts, dear Rabbi Israel Drazin.
Stephen, you are very kind. Thanks.
Israel