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Let us now continue with a selection from Part 3, Chapter 12, from Rabbi Moses ben Maimon’s book entitled, “The Guide for the Perplexed.” “These words are immediately followed by the explanation that man himself is the author of this class of evils, ‘But man is born unto trouble.’ This class of evils originates in man’s vices, such as excessive desire for eating, drinking, and love; indulgence in these things in undue measure, or in improper manner, or partaking of bad food. This course brings diseases and afflictions upon body and soul alike.”
“The error of the ignorant goes so far as to say that God’s power is insufficient, because He has given to this Universe the properties which they imagine cause these great evils, and which do not help all evil-disposed persons to obtain the evil which they seek, and to bring them to the aim of their desires, though these, as we have shown, are really without limit.”
“The virtuous and wise, however, see and comprehend the wisdom of God displayed in the Universe. Thus, David says, ‘All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.’” “All the difficulties and troubles we meet in this respect, are due to the desire for superfluous things; when we seek unnecessary things, we have difficulty even in finding that which is indispensable. For the more we desire to have that which is superfluous, the more we meet with difficulties; our strength and possessions are spent in unnecessary things, and are wanting when required for that which is necessary. Observe how Nature proves the correctness of this assertion. The more necessary a thing is for living beings, the more easily it is found and the cheaper it is; the less necessary it is, the rarer and dearer it is.” “In these two ways you will see the mercy of God toward His creatures, how He has provided that which is required, in proper proportions, and treated all individual beings of the same species with perfect equality.”
