Are we like servants similar to the Moshol that the Gem brings in the incidents of Shmuel Hakoton, dome l'eved shemevakesh Pras . Or are we bonim atem LaShem ? If we are like servants then the proper time to answer and bring the rains is like Shmuel; but if we are like children, does a father or mother only feed their children after being asked for food? Or are we really like both?
Kol Tuv
alex lebovits, toronto, canada
I think the Tefilah "ha'Yom Haras Olam" on Rosh Hashanah (and other Tefilos) show that it is difficult to know if we are considered Banim or Avadim in front of Hash-m, and we therefore Daven according to both possibilities ("Im k'Vanim...Im k'Avadim"). This probably shifts according to the actions of Klal Yisrael (although to a certain extent we are always considered Banim of Hash-m even when we sin, see terminology used, for example, on Berachos 3a).
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose