13
The angel Uriel answered, "I once went into the woods and heard the trees plotting together.
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They were saying, "Let's go to war against the sea and push it back, so that we may have more room.'
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But the waves of the sea also plotted together and said, "Let's conquer the woods and extend our territory.'
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But all the plotting of the trees was useless because fire came and destroyed them.
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And the plotting of the sea was just as useless because the sand stood firm and blocked its advance.
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Now, if you were the judge and had to decide between them, which would you pronounce right?"
19
I replied, "They were both wrong, because trees belong on the land, and waves belong in the sea."
20
"You have given the right answer," he said. "So why can't you see the answer to your own problems?
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For just as trees have their place on land, and waves have their place in the sea, so the people of this world can understand only what goes on in this world, and only heavenly beings can understand what goes on in heaven."
1
22
"Please tell me, sir," I asked, "why then was I given the ability to understand anything?
23
I am not interested in asking questions about what goes on in the heavens; I am only concerned about things that go on around us. Why has God allowed Israel to be disgraced by foreign nations? Why has he let the nation he loves be handed over to the power of godless nations? Why do the Law and the covenant that were given to our ancestors mean nothing any more?