Parshat Vaeyra

2002

What's in a Name?

After Moshe earns harsh rebuke from his people when he acts on God's instruction, Moshe complains to God, "Why did you send me to make this nation's life more miserable?" (Exodus 5:22),
God answers:

Exodus 6:1-6

God spoke to Moshe saying: Now you will see what I shall do to Pharoah. For with a strong hand I will send them forth and with a strong hand I will banish them from his land. God spoke to Moshe, he said to him: I am YHWH. 3 I was seen by Avraham, by Yitzhak, and by Yaakov as God Shaddai, but (by) my name YHWH I was not known to them. 4 I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, where they had sojourned. 5 And I have also heard the moaning of the Children of Israel, whom Egypt is holding-in-servitude, and I have called-to-mind my covenant. 6 Therefore, say to the children of Israel: I am YHWH; I will bring you out from beneath the burdens of Egypt, I will rescue you from servitude to them, I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, with great (acts of) judgment.

Your Torah Navigator

1. Does God give a direct answer to Moshe's question?
2. What was the purpose of Moshe's previous attempt to liberate the people?
3. Does God ever explain why Moshe didn't succeed in this mission?
4. If you were Moshe, would you require an explanation or would you accept God's promise to see what will happen next?

A Word

Implicit in God's response is a rebuke for Moshe's impatience. Your forefathers, God says, received a pale reflection of my presence while you know the essence of My Name, for I didn't reveal my essential Name to them, but only to you. Nevertheless, they understood that they were engaged in a journey while you, Moshe, at the first adverse moment are ready to question the enterprise. Play it through, Moshe. Liberation is fraught with detours, adversity and struggle. The forefathers did not contend with me even though they never knew me as intimately as you do. Knowledge of God requires the trust that each struggle has purpose and that is why Rashi says: Note that it does not say, "I didn't announce [my Name], but that this Name was not known to them, i.e., the attributes of My true essence were not known to them. What is my true essence? That ultimately whatever I promise will be fulfilled. For whatever I promised the forefathers was not fulfilled ultimately in their lifetime."

But Moshe knew God's essence, which meant that whatever God promised would indeed happen while Moshe was alive. Moshe's mission was to keep the faith and be confident that his mission was to be God's messenger, and thus ultimate success was guaranteed.

Prepared by Rabbi Avi Weinstein, Director, Hillel's Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning.

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