Cause & Effect

The very first lesson and warning the Creator gave Adam and Chava was about the law of "Cause & Effect."

The Creator warned Adam and Chava not to eat the forbidden fruit, as if they did, nature would suffer.

While the decree seemed to come directly from the Creator, the Creator had made Adam and Chava the reason for everything that happens in nature.

This means they were responsible for any changes to the default setting of the natural order.

But how could eating a fruit cause the natural world to suffer?

It looks like they are not related at all, but they actually are.

So, let's uncover the cosmic connection they failed to see...

Ever wonder why women are drawn to leaders?

Because their nature is designed to follow.

Similarly, the physical world is the female aspect of creation—the mother of all living beings—and her nature is designed to follow human leadership.

By giving Adam and Chava a warning, the Creator conveyed that the physical world does not operate independently; instead, she is a follower that mirrors human behavior.

That is to say, if humans act weakly, nature will follow suit; if they act strongly, she will follow suit as well.

Because nature follows, the Creator warned Adam and Chava to control their behavior and not act weakly, since nature would mirror their weakness, causing her to suffer and ultimately be doomed.

In essence, the Creator handed over the manual of creation called—Nature is Our Nature—proving that what we witness in nature is a direct reflection of our own behavior.

However, as a major part of the physical world, animals became the mirror of nature.

In the beginning of creation, the Creator appointed Adam to rule over all the animals and name them, demonstrating a close bond between humans and animals.

After all, we humans rule over our children and name them.

By commanding Adam to follow the same instructions for animals, the Creator is reminding Adam that he is not only the role model for his children but also for all the animals, since they are both followers.

Therefore, by assigning Adam to rule over all animals, the Creator affirmed that Adam is responsible for any change in animals' behavior.

In other words, by unleashing his behaviors, Adam would unleash all the animals as a consequence.

Yes, our behaviors impact nature, causing animals to mirror our very actions.

If we take advantage of our power to kill animals for sustenance, stronger animals capable of exploiting their power over the weak will be affected, mirror that behavior, and turn their own strength against them too. According to the Torah, both humans and animals were originally created herbivorous, sustaining themselves solely on vegetation. If animals had been created carnivorous, Adam and Eve could not have survived more than a few days surrounded by apex predators. Later, on Noah’s ark, every creature lived on stored plants. After all, if lions were already carnivorous when they left the ark, they would have eaten the other animals almost immediately, making the survival and repopulation of species with only two of each impossible.

Once Noah became the first person to kill animals for meat, predatory instincts awakened in those animals capable of taking advantage of their power to kill for meat. Because Noah mistook divine permission for a concession—rather than a test of the power to choose—his weak decision-making disrupted the natural order, causing declines in animal populations and reproductive health. Because Noah failed his test, he faced the karmic consequences of his actions, experiencing a parallel punitive struggle in his own ability to multiply and flourish.

If we had the power of speech, it would affect our animals, too. The Torah tells us that Bilaam's donkey spoke his language. Yes, you read that right. You might think this is a made-up story, but according to the law of "Cause & Effect," it is possible. Because Bilaam possessed an extraordinary power of speech, his donkey was affected and followed suit, mirroring that ability to speak his language. The angel opened the donkey's mouth but did not give the donkey the power of speech that Bilaam possessed.

If we become invaders and don't respect our borders, it will affect capable animals, causing them to follow suit and ignore their own boundaries. We are witnessing animals like bears, mountain lions, and coyotes invading our cities, failing to realize it is because humans have become the invaders.

If we cheat on our partner, it will affect the sexual behavior of animals too. Studies have shown that animals frequently cheat on their partners, even those that mate for life.

If we were attracted to the same gender, it would affect the same-sex behavior in animals, too. Studies show that same-sex sexual behavior is common across many animal species.

If we intentionally set the forest on fire, capable birds like brown falcons and kites will be affected and follow suit, using burning sticks to spread fire and hunt fleeing prey.

If we do evil or commit sins, our animals are affected and bear the consequences. This is why Pharaoh’s cavalry and his army’s horses were also killed when they pursued the Israelites into the sea. Furthermore, when humans sin, their possessions can become corrupted by their sins. This principle is why the Creator instructs sacrificing* kosher animals. Applying this concept today, if you experience a financial loss, consider it a spiritual sacrifice and try not to stress over it. The Torah similarly notes that Korah’s possessions were swallowed by the earth when he rebelled—a clear indicator that his belongings were directly affected by the law of "Cause & Effect."

Therefore, whenever we see animals doing something, we know exactly who is behind it.

The law of "Cause & Effect" teaches that because we humans are created to be the reason for everything that happens in nature, abusing our powers will undermine our physical and spiritual growth.

Yes, we live in a world shaped by our behaviors.

But life should not be the way we are experiencing it.

When we witness wildlife that is not behaving peacefully, it is only because humans are not behaving peacefully.

Be sure that, just as animals started showing their wild behavior, they can once again show their peaceful behavior.

Note that almost everything the Creator shows us is about showing us our behavior, since that is the only way we can reach our potential.

The law of "Cause & Effect" helps us to see a reflection of our behavior in nature like a mirror, and thereby correct our mistakes.

That is why nature is our best teacher.

The Creator did not change the default setting of the natural order after He created it; humans did. We are the cause and are responsible for restoring nature to the way it was created.

And yes, we do have the power to change nature; if we change our nature, nature will change for us.

Nature is our nature.

— Bahram Cohanfard

* Please note that according to Jewish law, bringing offerings is permissible.