The Divine Artist

Long ago there lived a king who had, as his closest friend and advisor, the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community. Often, the king would call the rabbi to his palace and discuss with him all kinds of matters pertaining to the ruling of his country. At times, the king would question the Rabbi about Torah and Judaism. The rabbi answered all the king's questions patiently and wisely.

One day, the king called in his friend. The rabbi could see that the king looked quite agitated. "I have a question that has been bothering me for some time now. I have failed to find a satisfactory answer."

"Ask, your Highness," said the Rabbi, "and with G-d's help I will be able to answer."

"While studying your religion," began the king, "I have learned that one of your basic tenets is to believe in G-d who created the heavens and the earth. Now, my dear Rabbi," the king continued, "before we can believe that G-d created the world, we have to be sure that there is a G-d. What proof do we have that G-d created the world? Perhaps it came about by itself."

While the king posed these questions, he accidently brushed his elbow against a bottle of ink that was on his desk. The bottle turned over and the ink spilled out, blotting up the papers that were near the ink bottle and spilling on the king's royal garments.

The king jumped up from his seat. He asked that the rabbi wait while he left the room to change his clothing and excused himself.

As soon as the king left the room, the rabbi swiftly took the ink-filled papers off the king's desk and threw them away. The rabbi then took a clean sheet of paper and quickly began drawing a picture of lofty mountains, tall trees, a river, and beautiful flower gardens. As soon as he finished drawing the picture, he placed it on the desk right next to the overturned ink bottle, making it appear as thought the ink had spilled on the paper.

The rabbi repositioned himself in his chair and calmly awaited the king's return. Soon, the king returned to the room, and immediately noticed the beautiful drawing on his desk.

"What is this?" asked the king in surprise. "Who drew this beautiful scene?"

The rabbi looked at the king innocently and said, "When the ink spilled all over your majesty's desk it made this picture!"

"Come now," cried out the king, "certainly you are smarter than that. How could you say such a thing? Why, a magnificent drawing like this cannot happen by itself. Surely someone drew this breathtaking landscape."

"Please come with me onto the balcony," offered the rabbi. Once outside, the rabbi began, "Your majesty, tell me, where did all of these tall trees come from? Who formed these high mountains? And look at the beautiful flowers in your gardens below, who made them?"

The king nodded thoughtfully. The Rabbi continued, "Just a few moments ago, the king himself proclaimed that it would be foolish to say that anything came about by itself. Obviously, it was I who drew the picture found on your desk in an attempt to prove that G-d created the whole world. For who or what, if not G-d, made the heavens, the sun, moon and stars? Who filled the deep oceans and formed the lofty mountains? The answer is as 'black and white' as that drawing on your desk."

The king was impressed and satisfied with his friend's sagacious answer. For many years he continued to enjoy the rabbi's sharp wisdom and perception.