Why Torah Was Given to Man

There is a well known Midrash brought in connection with a conversation that took place in Heaven. It involved the angels protesting to G-d as to why He allowed Moshe Rabbeinu entrance to their domain.

Hashem told the angels that Moshe had come to receive the Torah. The angels were annoyed and felt that the Torah should remain in Heaven where it had always been kept.

G-d instructed Moshe that he needed to answer the claims of the angels, and why the Torah needed to be given to the Jewish people. And they would be given the task of teaching its values to the world.

Moshe asked the angels several unanswerable questions. He asked, “Were you slaves in Egypt where you suffered bondage and were eventually redeemed?” He asked further, “Are you involved in business transactions where your honesty and moral standards are tested.” And a third question that was most convincing. “Do you have a Yeitzer Hara, evil inclination, that you must constantly battle, that tempts you to turn away from Hashem.”

The angels realized that man needed the Torah far more than they did. Hashem was very satisfied with Moshe’s answer.
This Midrash was meant to drive home the point that life has many challenges. Our human vulnerability and weaknesses, should make us realize that we need Divine guidance to help us meet these challenges.

We are to feel eternally grateful that we were given the gift of the Torah. With it, there is hope for a better world. Without it, the world becomes one of chaos and nothingness.