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Before Adam was created, the Torah states, "All the bushes of the field had not yet grown, and the plants of the field had not yet sprung up, because G-d had not brought rain upon the earth, and there was no man to work the soil" (Genesis 2:5). This is speaking of the sixth day of creation, and Rashi notes that this seems to contradict the verse which says that on the third day, "the earth brought forth plants" (Genesis 1:12). Rashi explains that the plants only emerged as far as the surface of the ground, and there they remained until Adam prayed for rain. The rain then fell, and all the plants and trees began to grow from the ground.
When G-d created the world, He created Adam and Eve only after the entire Creation was complete. The light, the sea and the earth, the trees and flowers, the sun, moon and stars and the animals were all created and in place. Finally, on the sixth day, He created Adam and brought him into a world that was complete and prepared for his use. However, when we read further (Bereshith 2:5) we find a seemingly contradictory verse. It says: “All the trees of the field were not yet on the earth and the grass of the field had not yet sprouted.” Didn’t we read earlier (Bereshith 1:12) that all the trees, herbs and vegetation had already come forth?Our Rabbis of blessed memory explain that the Creator did, indeed, create all the trees, herbs and vegetation, but they all remained beneath the surface of the earth; they did not break through the ground. Why is that? “Because G-d did not bring rain, and there was no man to work the soil” (Bereshith 2:5). In other words, G-d had prepared for all of Adam’s needs, as a loving father would. He created everything that Adam would need or wish to use and had them waiting for his arrival. However, since the vegetation was still under the surface, Adam understood the need for rain and realized that the only way to bring it was through prayer.We must learn from this a very important concept: just as G-d prepared for all of Adam’s needs in this world, so too, G-d has prepared the needs of all of us in this world. However, in order to receive them we must use the tool that G-d has given us in order to make the connection with Him that He desires. That tool is our power of speech which must be used in the form of ardent Tefillah (prayer).