“How numerous are Your works, Hashem; You have made them all with wisdom; the earth is full of Your possessions” (Tehillim 104:24)
The Malbim expounds: Although Hashem’s world is full of various creatures, they are all made with wisdom. Hashem prepared the means for each species to endure and never become extinct. He created a haven for the weaker animals, protecting them from predators. The earth is full of His possessions. Each species continues and will never naturally become extinct. Humanity will multiply until they fill the entire world.
Even things that seem superfluous, such as flies, flees, and mosquitoes, are part of a master plan. Hashem uses each creature to execute His will, even the lowly snake, frog, and mosquito (Vayikra Rabbah, Acharei Mot 22).
David Hamelech was once sitting in his garden when he noticed a hornet consume a spider. A fool approached the hornet and chased it away with a staff. David then asked Hashem, “Ribbono shel Olam! Why did You create the hornet, which does not seem to provide benefit to mankind? And the spider, which weaves all year long, day in and day out, without accomplishing anything of value? What is the purpose of the fool? He has no intellect to conceive of Your greatness and merely causes trouble.”
Hashem replied, “David, now you scorn these creatures. Know that there will come a time when you will need them. Then you will understand why I created them.”
When David was hiding in a cave from Shaul Hamelech, Hashem sent a spider to weave a web across the opening of the cave. Shaul came chasing after David. When he reached the cave, he assumed it to be abandoned, as it had a spider web spun around its opening, a clear indication that no one was inside. Shaul turned on his heel and went on his way. When David emerged, he saw his savior, the spider, and kissed it, saying, “Blessed is your Creator and blessed are you. Ribbono shel Olam! Who can do like Your deeds of beauty and strength?!”
When David stood before Achish (who wanted to kill him), he acted like a crazed man. The daughter and wife of Achish were crazy. When his men brought in David, Achish asked, “Don’t I have enough crazy people here?! Are you trying to mock me?” They immediately set David free, and he ran for his life. Then he understood the benefit of crazy people in this world and thanked Hashem for His creations. He realized that everything in the world serves a purpose.
When David found Shaul taking his noonday rest with Avner, his bodyguard, he wended his way around them in order to take their jug of water. When he tried exiting, Avner pinned him down with his legs, which were like two pillars. David beseeched Hashem for mercy, crying, “Hashem, why have you forsaken me?” Hashem performed a miracle and sent a hornet to bite Avner’s foot. He then straightened out his legs, clearing the coast for David’s hasty retreat. Once again, David thanked Hashem for His beneficial creations (Otzar Hamidrashim).
The Gemara (Yerushalmi, Berachot 9:13) states: One who sees beautiful trees or beautiful people blesses Hashem for them, with the statement, “Blessed be He Who created beautiful creatures in His world.” One who sees majestic mountains, flourishing valleys, seas, or vast desert land, recites the blessing, “Blessed be He Who makes the works of Creation.” One who sees the ocean recites, “Blessed be He Who made the great sea.”
Even for sighting a handsome camel, horse, or donkey, one says, “Blessed be He Who made beautiful animals.” One who sees a tremendous population says, “Blessed is the Master of secrets.” Just as no two people look exactly alike, so do their opinions differ. When Ben Zoma saw a large population in Yerushalayim, he said, “Blessed be He Who created all these people to serve me. How hard Adam Harishon had to labor just to eat a slice of bread. He had to plant, plow, harvest, winnow, select, grind, sift, knead, and bake, until he could finally enjoy the fruit of his labor. I wake up to find a perfect loaf of bread waiting for me. How hard Adam Harishon had to toil in order to have clothes to wear. He had to shear, whiten, dye, spin, weave, wash, and sew, until he finally had an article of clothing. I awaken and find my clothes perfect, waiting for me.”
