Sanhedrin 39: Answering a Heretic

A somewhat truncated analysis of today's daf:

How does one argue with a heretic?  The rabbis provide examples in the form of a number of exchanges.  The first argument shared is that of Rabbi Gamliel's daughter, who was strong in her logical defence of G-d's power.  Each of these arguments is focused on the existence of G-d verses the seemingly negative things done by G-d.

It is fascinating to follow the rabbis' arguments about the existence of G-d.  Clearly a heretic was a person who believed in alternative G-ds or higher powers.  The idea of "no higher power" is absent.   There is a supernatural element to many of the proofs used - if one has been good, G-d will provide a reward but if one has transgressed, watch out.  

Most of the heretical challenges are quite simple in nature, which reminds me of the Torah stories about the magicians in Egypt who would counter Moshe's G-d with their own tricks.  In a world where G-d is the master magician, one might try to outsmart G-d, continually, with human magic that sometimes borders on the supernatural.  In today's daf the rabbis are able to outsmart the heretic quite easily with their logical reasoning.

This conversation becomes a tribute to the greatness of G-d.  One rabbi asks what G-d did about a mikvah after burying Moshe.  Rather than being told that this was ridiculous or even a simple metaphor, the rabbis answer seriously.  Did G-d immerse in our waters?  But G-d's hand would not even fit in all of the water on earth, one rabbi replies.  The rabbis continue this argument.  Surely the rabbis understood G-d as a concept larger than what might be held in a corporeal metaphor.  Or was G-d so personal to them; so humanized, that the rabbis liked to understand G-d as one who could understand their thoughts and desires, their words and their prayers?