בס”ד
A THOUGHT ABOUT PARSHAT VA’EIRA 5785
The Revelation of Hashem to Moses and the Promise of Redemption
Introduction
In this blog, we will explore why G-d reveals Himself in different ways to the patriarchs and to Moses, and what this means for the promises G-d has made to His people. We will examine why G-d tells Moses, “I am Hashem,” even though He had already revealed this name to Moses in Exodus 3:15. By understanding the significance of G-d’s names, we can better understand how His promises were not only made but also fulfilled in a mighty way.
| G-d spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am Hashem | וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֱלֹקים אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אֲנִ֥י ד’׃ |
| I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shakkai, but I did not make Myself known to them by My name | וָאֵרָ֗א אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶל־יִצְחָ֥ק וְאֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֖ב בְּאֵ֣ל שַׁקי וּשְׁמִ֣י ד’ לֹ֥א נוֹדַ֖עְתִּי לָהֶֽם׃ |
Why does G-d say to Moses, “I am Hashem”?
G-d had already revealed this to Moses in Exodus 3:15
| 15 And G-d said moreover unto Moses: ‘Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: Hashem, the G-d of your fathers, the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac, and the G-d of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; this is My name for ever, and this is My memorial unto all generations. | טו וַיֹּאמֶר עוֹד אֱלֹקים אֶל-מֹשֶׁה, כֹּה-תֹאמַר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, ד’ אֱלֹקי אֲבֹתֵיכֶם אֱלֹקי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹקי יִצְחָק וֵאלֹקי יַעֲקֹב, שְׁלָחַנִי אֲלֵיכֶם; זֶה-שְּׁמִי לְעֹלָם, וְזֶה זִכְרִי לְדֹר דֹּר |
So why does G-d reveal this name again to Moses in Exodus 6:2-3? And why does it say He “did not make Himself known” to the patriarchs by this name?
The Revelation to the Patriarchs
The patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—knew G-d as E-l Shakai. As Rashi explains, this name represents G-d as the One who is able to fulfill His promises, even in the face of difficulties. The patriarchs trusted G-d completely, even when His promises seemed delayed or unfulfilled. Their faith was pure and unwavering, and they did not ask for miracles or signs to confirm His word.
One example of this deep trust is seen when Abraham bought the Cave of Machpelah as a burial site for Sarah, despite the promise of the land of Canaan. Even though the reality seemed contradictory to G-d’s promise, Abraham did not question it. In contrast, Rashi points out that because the patriarchs did not experience the fulfillment of G-d’s promises in their lives, they were unable to understand the deeper meaning of G-d’s name Hashem. They could only trust in the promises, but for them, it was not yet a tangible reality. Moses, as we read at the end of the previous parasha in Exodus 5:22-23 struggled with this kind of trust in G-d’s promises.
| 22 And Moses returned unto Hashem, and said: ‘L-rd, wherefore hast Thou dealt ill with this people? why is it that Thou hast sent me? | כב וַיָּשָׁב מֹשֶׁה אֶל-ד’, וַיֹּאמַר: אֲדֹנָי, לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה–לָמָּה זֶּה, שְׁלַחְתָּנִי |
| 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all.’ | כג וּמֵאָז בָּאתִי אֶל-פַּרְעֹה, לְדַבֵּר בִּשְׁמֶךָ, הֵרַע, לָעָם הַזֶּה; וְהַצֵּל לֹא-הִצַּלְתָּ, אֶת-עַמֶּךָ |
This, however, was about to change for Moses and for the Israelites.
The Revelation to Moses
G-d uses the name Hashem to make Moses understand that He is not only the G-d of promise (El Shaddai), but also the G-d who fulfills His promises, even in supernatural ways. By revealing this name, G-d emphasizes His sovereignty and power over the laws of nature, and shows His unwavering reliability. Moses and the Israelites would now gain a deeper understanding of G-d’s essence—much more than the patriarchs had ever experienced. They would not only learn that G-d had promised their redemption, but that He would fulfill this promise in a remarkable and miraculous way. This would be made clear through the plagues G-d would bring upon Egypt, where He would reveal Himself as the G-d of judgment (Elokim). Through their redemption from slavery and their journey to the Promised Land, Moses and the Israelites would come to understand that G-d is not only a G-d of promises, but a G-d of real fulfillment, who always brings His words into reality.
Important Lessons and Promises for the Future
We can learn from the patriarchs that we should place our unconditional trust in G-d. Even when we do not see the immediate fulfillment of His promises, we can be confident that they will eventually be realized. One promise G-d has given to the world is that wars will one day cease. Isaiah 2:4
| 4 And He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. | ד וְשָׁפַט בֵּין הַגּוֹיִם, וְהוֹכִיחַ לְעַמִּים רַבִּים; וְכִתְּתוּ חַרְבוֹתָם לְאִתִּים, וַחֲנִיתוֹתֵיהֶם לְמַזְמֵרוֹת–לֹא-יִשָּׂא גוֹי אֶל-גּוֹי חֶרֶב, וְלֹא-יִלְמְדוּ עוֹד מִלְחָמָה |
In a world that is still plagued by wars and conflicts, we may wonder when this will be realized. G-d’s promise of peace will be fulfilled when the nations recognize the truth about G-d, as stated in Isaiah 2:3
| 3 And many peoples shall go and say: ‘Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Hashem, to the house of the G-d of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Hashem from Jerusalem. | ג וְהָלְכוּ עַמִּים רַבִּים, וְאָמְרוּ לְכוּ וְנַעֲלֶה אֶל-הַר-ד’ אֶל-בֵּית אֱלֹקי יַעֲקֹב, וְיֹרֵנוּ מִדְּרָכָיו, וְנֵלְכָה בְּאֹרְחֹתָיו: כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה, וּדְבַר-ד’ מִירוּשָׁלִָם |
And Zechariah 8:23
| 23 Thus saith Hashem of hosts: In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.’ | כג כֹּה-אָמַר, ד’ צְבָאוֹת, בַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה, אֲשֶׁר יַחֲזִיקוּ עֲשָׂרָה אֲנָשִׁים מִכֹּל לְשֹׁנוֹת הַגּוֹיִם; וְהֶחֱזִיקוּ בִּכְנַף אִישׁ יְהוּדִי לֵאמֹר, נֵלְכָה עִמָּכֶם–כִּי שָׁמַעְנוּ, אֱלֹקים עִמָּכֶם. |
This will be the moment of the promise of Zechariah 14:9
| 9 And Hashem shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall Hashem be One, and His name one. | ט וְהָיָה ד’ לְמֶלֶךְ, עַל-כָּל-הָאָרֶץ; בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, יִהְיֶה ד’ אֶחָד–וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד |
The Fulfillment of G-d’s Plan:
When that time comes, everyone will understand that different names Hashem and Elokim refer to the same G-d. Just as we saw in Egypt, G-d’s judgments were not only for the redemption of Israel but for the good of the entire world. As Exodus 9:16 tells us:
| 6 But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. | טז וְאוּלָם, בַּעֲבוּר זֹאת הֶעֱמַדְתִּיךָ, בַּעֲבוּר, הַרְאֹתְךָ אֶת-כֹּחִי; וּלְמַעַן סַפֵּר שְׁמִי, בְּכָל-הָאָרֶץ |
And in Exodus 14:18
| 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am Hashem, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.’ | יח וְיָדְעוּ מִצְרַיִם, כִּי-אֲנִי ד’, בְּהִכָּבְדִי בְּפַרְעֹה, בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו |
Everything that happens in the world will ultimately lead to the point where the world will see that G-d is good, does good, and every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will praise Him.”
| 23 By Myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from My mouth in righteousness, and shall not come back, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. | כג בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי–יָצָא מִפִּי צְדָקָה דָּבָר, וְלֹא יָשׁוּב: כִּי-לִי תִּכְרַע כָּל-בֶּרֶךְ, תִּשָּׁבַע כָּל-לָשׁוֹן |
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for his feedback
Sources:
HaChaim on Exodus 6:2 and 6:3
Ramban on Exodus 6:2:1
Rashi on Exodus 6:2: and 6:3
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