Chasidut zu Ijow 26:13

1.) As the Rambam teaches us in the Guide (third section, chapter 17), the most incorrect view in this matter is that of the heretics who claim that God exercises no providence whatsoever over existence, but rather, the world runs purely by chance, and all that happens is merely accidental. This view is rooted in the Primordial Serpent (in the Garden), which brings darkness and obscurity to the world. In the Beit Yaakov on Parshat Bereshit (64-65), the holy Rav explains that throughout the verses of creation in the beginning of the Torah, the name YHVH (the Tetragrammaton) is not mentioned until the creation of man. Prior to this, only the name Elo-him is used. However, the beginning of the Serpent’s incitement lay in concealing the name YHVH, for when he began to speak to Eve, he said, “Did Elo-him say that you shall not eat from every tree in the garden?” This is because the name Elo-him alludes the governance of nature, as we are taught in the writings of the Arizal, that the name Elo-him is the numerical equivalent of word, “nature (hateva).” It is written in the Zohar (Parshat Mishpatim, 108b), “For now, the name Elo-him is not connected to the sacrifice, for if it was, how many elohim aherim (false gods) would sprout ears and join there!” Meaning to say, the Serpent concealed the name YHVH, because it alludes to God’s presence that shines through every garment.⁴⁹⁸That is, every seemingly "external" aspect of creation that “covers” the Divine Presence. This light was concealed through the Serpent’s incitement, and from then on, it looked as if the world was run by chance. It is written in the Zohar (Pekudei, 244b), “The sixth level is called, ‘the foreskin.’⁴⁹⁹The Zohar here lists six levels, or spiritual forces, that conceal Divinity. The number six always corresponds to the Sefirah of Yesod, which anatomically corresponds to the male member. This and all levels below it are all called, ‘foreskin,’ because they draw their power from this aspect. This is within the secret of the bar-like serpent, (nahash bariah,⁵⁰⁰See Yeshayahu 27:1, and Iyov, 26:13. referring to the masculine force of evil), which nurses the crooked serpent (nahash alkalaton – its female).’”