“He Who said that oil should burn, will tell vinegar to burn, as well” (Ta’anit 25a)
The Abarbanel (Bereishit 1) expounds: It is the natural order that everything operates according to Hashem’s will.
The Zohar states (Yitro 277) that if people would understand the wisdom which Hashem invested in this world and the power inherent in each object, they would recognize the power of their Creator with deep understanding. But Hashem concealed this wisdom from people so that they should not become dependent on their own wisdom, thereby forgetting Him.
The Maharsham (Shut II 247) writes that the power of electricity is hinted at in Mishlei (27:17), “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens his fellow.” Scientists have discovered that two people could be connected by electricity. This electrical connection causes one to disclose his inner feelings and forces him to reveal his innermost secrets… This is hinted at in the above quote. There is nothing which is not alluded to in the Torah.
Rabbi Dessler writes (Michtav Me’Eliyahu I, pg. 270): In their arrogance, people assume that the more developed the world is and the more advanced technology becomes, the more perfect the world can be. But they are making a fundamental mistake. Technological advances represent destruction. Commensurate with a civilization’s development will be its destruction. These people fail to understand that corrupt character destroys everything.
Had people been givers, the world would, indeed, be more advanced. But since they are takers, the world does not stand a chance of survival. People use their inventions for ruin and devastation; to grab as much as they can and to make wars. For instance, airplanes are capable of wreaking tremendous destruction, something unheard-of when wars were fought only on the ground.
This outlook on the wisdom of the world is expressed in the pasuk (Bereishit 4:22), “Tuval-Cain, who sharpened all cutting implements of copper and iron.” What would we say to such an innovation? Tuval-Cain succeeded in inventing metal instruments, replacing sticks and stones, with which they used to plow the land until then. How much easier he made their workload! But Chazal tell us that the Torah perceived this as an act of destruction, since the metal instruments were the forerunner of weapons of violence. Rashi explains (ibid.), “Tuval-Cain means ‘He who seasons the craft of Cain.’ The wordתובל has the same root as the word תבלין (seasoning). He seasoned and improved the craft of Cain by making weapons for murderers.”
Regarding korbanot, we are warned, “And when you make for Me an Altar of stones, do not build them hewn, for you will have raised your sword over it and desecrated it.” The Ramban comments: They were forbidden from using metal objects… Any object which cuts is called חרב (sword), since it is a tool which isמחריב – destroys. One might ask why all metal tools, even beneficial ones, are called by the name חרב. This is because until the world will reach a state of perfection, people will continue using tools for destructive purposes. They are therefore all considered weapons of destruction.
The author of the work Shiurei Da’at (Chapter 3) states: Recent generations have seen astounding inventions which have made revolutions in many areas of life. Hidden powers of nature, which contain untold potential, have been discovered. Until their discovery, it was difficult to believe that such elements existed in nature. Whatever has been revealed to us is nothing but a drop in the sea of the secrets of nature, which we have not yet uncovered. Had all of mankind maintained the bonds of unity, and labored, each in his chosen field, for the good of the entire world, who knows how many benefits they could have unearthed from the lap of nature. These could have brought so much pleasure to people, as well as remedies for various ailments.
