Can Hashem Transform Into a Human Barber So He Can Cut My Hair? (Part 1)

This morning's shiur (12/4/20 at Lomdeha) was prompted by a question I was sent by a listener about a statement in the Gemara to the effect that Hashem transformed into a human barber and cut Sancheriv's hair. I was asked what I thought about this Gemara and figured this would make for a good "midrash workshop." In Part 1 we discuss how to approach such statements in GENERAL. This coming Friday, in Part 2, we will attempt to elucidate the midrash itself.