Controversy raises and elevates a person <with increased zeal in the service of God>. This is because “man is the tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19).
Now, a tree laying on the ground cannot possibly raise itself up, except when flood waters come over it. Then, the water picks up and carries the tree. And controversy is called water, as it is written (Psalms 88:18), “They surrounded me like water all day long; together they encircled me.”
הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת מַגְבִּיהַּ וּמֵרִים אֶת הָאָדָם, כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה (דברים כ׳:י״ט),
Controversy raises and elevates a person <with increased zeal in the service of God>. This is because “man is the tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19).
וְהִנֵּה עֵץ הַמֻּנָּח עַל הָאָרֶץ, אִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְהַגְבִּיהַּ אֶת עַצְמוֹ, כִּי־אִם עַל יְדֵי שֶׁבָּאִין עָלָיו מַיִם שׁוֹטְפִין אֲזַי הַמַּיִם מְרִימִין וְנוֹשְׂאִין אֶת הָעֵץ, וְהַמַּחֲלֹקֶת נִקְרָא מַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהלים פח): סַבּוּנִי כַמַּיִם כָּל הַיּוֹם, הִקִּיפוּ עָלַי יָחַד:
Now, a tree laying on the ground cannot possibly raise itself up, except when flood waters come over it. Then, the water picks up and carries the tree. And controversy is called water, as it is written (Psalms 88:18), “They surrounded me like water all day long; together they encircled me.”