Rabi Yochanan said: “What does the Torah mean when it says, ‘He does wonders that are immeasurable and miracles that are incomprehensible?’ This refers to the miracle of the birth of a child.”
Before a child is conceived, Hashem summons the Malach of Birth and notifies him that a new life is about to be created. The malach then appears with this spark of life and asks Hashem what sort of person it will it?
Hashem then decrees if the person will be strong or weak, tall or short, male or female, wise or foolish, rich or poor. But if he will be good or bad, He does not decree, for that choice alone is given to man.
The Malach of Neshamos is then asked to bring forth soul so-and-so, which had been created at the beginning of time. All neshamos were created when Hashem made the world, and they reside in Gan Eden until their ordained time.
The neshama approaches Hashem Who commands it to enter this new spark of life, which will develop into the body of a human being.
But the neshama hesitates and says: “Ribbono Shel Olam, don’t force me to enter into such an odorous and decayed mortal. I am holy and pure, having been created by Your Holiness.”
But Hashem answers, “The world which you are about to enter is a good world and I only created you for the purpose of entering the mortal body.”
Two Choices
The neshama is then forced into this spark of life, and Hashem assigns two malachim to guard it. A candle is lit near its head and it studies all the knowledge of the world. It is also able to see all that transpires from the beginning of the world to its end.
One of the malachim assigned to it then takes it around Gan Eden. He points out the holy tzaddikim who are seated in all their glory.
“Do you know who these people are?” he asks.
“No,” answers the neshama.
“These people were similar to you before they were born. They entered the world that you are about to see; they observed all the mitzvos of the Torah, were kind and good and led an exemplary life. If you will follow their example, you too will dwell in this paradise.”
That night he shows the neshama Gehennom. “These are the people who were evil in the world,” the malach explains. “Avoid their path and you will reap the benefits of Paradise.”
The malach then shows the neshama where it will live, where it will die and where it will be buried.
Rebellion
When the time comes for it to be born and enter this world, the neshama rebels and exclaims, “I don’t want to leave my comfortable dwelling!”
But the malach admonishes it saying, “Know, my child, that you are created against your will; you are born against your will; you will die against your will and will have to give reckoning on the Day of Judgment against your will.”
The malach then forces the neshama out into the world. The child cries when it is born, because it has just left a beautiful world of calm and peace.
The Seven Stages of Life
A person undergoes seven stages in his life. The first years he is compared to a king. Everyone loves him, he is kissed and hugged, and a fuss is made over him. The next few years he is compared to a pig. He is filthy and wallows in dirt and mud. When he reaches seven years of age, he is compared to a goat. He is always prancing and jumping around. When the child enters his teen years he is compared to a horse. He is frisky, haughty and proud.