“When a person stumbles and transgresses, remind them that a mosquito preceded them in creation,” says the Midrash. How’s that for encouragement?! Seems to me more like hitting them when they’re down. “Not only did you fail to live up to the standards that are expected from you, essentially you are worth less than a mosquito…”
Do you think that the wise sages of the Midrash are engaging in ad-hominem attacks on someone who is obviously already down on themselves? Of course not! What could possibly be the encouragement found in these words?
Let’s take a look at the context. The Midrash is discussing the reason why the Torah teaches the laws associated with people after the laws of animals (in last week’s Torah portion). The sages say this is because just as G-d created humans after animals, so too are their laws are discussed second.
Ok, so they match up – the order of the laws and the creation narrative. That’s nice and all but why does the creation narrative itself describe the creation of humans as being after the creation of animals?
There are basically two opinions (of course): 1) To emphasize the greatness of humanity – all of creation was prepared for us in advance. 2) So that “when a person stumbles, remind them that a mosquito preceded them in creation.” The first answer emphasizes the superiority of humanity over all other creations and the second reminds us that even the tiniest (and most annoying) creature is more significant than us.
In what way is even a mosquito better off than a human being? Humans are the only creation than can even entertain the thought of transgressing G-d’s will. Animals were created for a particular purpose and all they can do is fulfill their job. Human beings have free will and can therefore deviate from their assigned job; in this way they are inferior to animals.
Still, not too encouraging. Hearing this after I have stumbled - I don’t yet feel motivated to brush myself off and try again.
Here’s the decoding of the profound message contained within this perplexing statement. There are two types of accomplishment: 1) Utilizing a natural talent that makes accomplishing a certain challenge relatively easy. 2) Working hard on something that’s not necessarily your forte and successfully accomplishing your goal. When we work hard and succeed, it’s more valuable and precious than when something is given to us as a gift.
The first statement of the Midrash is telling us about our natural talents – we were created after animals due to our innate value, not due to our accomplishments.
The second statement of the Midrash tells us, true you may have made a mistake, a bad choice. You might have deviated from the path that is expected from you and in that way you are lower than a mosquito. But don’t forget what you have already accomplished – you have made yourself into an Adam (from the Hebrew word which means similar to G-d). Even though you were created with such a handicap, look at what you have accomplished through your hard work! You may have stumbled in this instant but don’t allow one temporary setback to cause you lose sight of your great accomplishments until now!
Too often we allow ourselves to get derailed by a temporary setback – it’s important to remind ourselves of our successful accomplishments brought about through hard work until now.
Don’t forget from where you have come – you started off behind the mosquito and now look at you!
