Are the heavenly creatures perplexed by humans?

St. Jacob of Sarug imagines the hosts of heaven glorifying God their Creator in amazement at the work of creation. They prepare flowers to adorn two crowns for the bride and groom, and all the creation prepares to present these to them: “The heavenly soldiers were astonished at this skillfulness, for they did not know for whom this was intended … so, the created beings bore dowries and gifts to present to the bridegroom and the bride which had not yet been created … the sun rose and traversed and set for their sake, and the moon hastened to change the seasons for their sake. The days and nights alternated, seeking for Adam, yet Adam was not among the trees. The house was built, but there was none to inhabit it; and there were many possessions, yet none to possess them. The light was good, but there was no one to behold it. The site was pleasant, but there was no dweller to desire it. Fruits abounded in the trees, but there was none to eat of them; the vines were beautiful with their clusters, but there was none to harvest them. The fish played in the rivers, but there was no fisherman. The wilderness awaited the heir, but he was not to be found. The garden was open and awaiting the coming of its gardener, its delicious fruits were ripe for the plucking.”⁴⁹⁹

497 St. Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor 2.4 (ANF 2:248) amended.

498 See Behnam Sony, Man in the Teaching of St. Jacob of Sarug (1995): p. 36.

499 St. Jacob of Sarug, Memre 71.