Burnt With The Finger

The midrash comments on the words (1:26) naaseh adam that Hashem consulted with the angels before creating man.  The midrash says we learn from here a great lesson in humility for even Hashem asked others before man (cited in Rashi.)  The Gemorah in Sanhedrin (38b) recalls a similar episode to that of the midrash.  It records that the malachim said that its not worth it to create man for he will sin.  Hashem stuck his finger out and burnt them.  Finally, there came a long a pair of malachim that agreed to the creation of man and they were kept alive.  In the light of the Gemorah the midrash is very difficult.  If I ask someone for advice but not only ignore what he says but even punish them for their words of wisdom it doesn’t seem to be very humble, so how does this show the humility of Hashem?  Why does Hashem burn them with his finger, obviously this is metaphoric, what does it teach us to say he burnt them with His finger?  The Alter Rebbe (footnote to Tikkun Chatzos in Sidduur with maamorim) explains that when Chazal say the malachim were burnt up it doesn’t mean that Hashem killed them rather that because of their awesome fear of Hashem they cease to exist.  The kabbalists teach that the ten fingers of the hand correspond to the ten sefiros.  Therefore, the Gemorah says they were burnt by the small finger of Hashem alluding to the last sefira of malchus which refers to Hashem being a ruler which demands tremendous respect.  Hashem didn’t kill the malachim, He didn’t ignore what they said, but they ceased to exist because of the response of Hashem.  

How is Hashem's burning the angels a response to their question?   Rav Pinchas Freedman (Shviley Pinchus) explains based upon the famous idea of the Gra and Chassidus (its already found in Rishonim) that malchus refers to a willful acceptance of the king as opposed to a moshal who is a dictator.  The response of Hashem to the malachim was that true man will sin but that’s what I want, I want the yetzer hatrah, the struggles of the mortal man.  I want man to recognize that despite all his setbacks I exist and accept my kingship.  (See Likutay Sichos volume 10 sicha 1 on Vayera footnote 28 for a different approach as to what the answer is.)