Parshat Shmot into Vaerah

1It always struck me as strange how Moshe reacted to G-d’s instructions. This is the same Moshe who would eventually give us 613 commandments from G-d that we must absolutely follow and obey. Yet when he meets G-d for the very first time he is totally reluctant to do what he is being told to do. Here is what Moshe says to God following G-d’s instructions to speak to the Israelites with the promise of redemption. : “And, behold, they will not believe me nor listen to my voice, saying “G-d did not appear to you””. G-d then gives Moshe the three signs for proof. Moshe responds, “Please, my G-d, I am not a speaker, neither yesterday nor the previous day even from when You spoke to Your servant, for I am heavy of mouth and of tongue.” G-d promises to help Moshe with his speech difficulties, for after all He says to Moshe. ” I am G-d”, Moshe responds “Please my G-d send someone more worthy (see Unkelus verse 13). G-d then is angry with Moshe but does offer Aaron as a helper. The first encounter with Pharaoh was unsuccessful just like G-d had told Moshe. The result was further burdening of the slavery. Moshe returns to G-d with the following complaint: “G-d, why did you cause difficulties to this people? Why did you send me? G-d responds with the famous verses of redemption that open up Parshat Vaerah. The children of Israel this time weren’t able to hear Moshe from the extreme hardships. They had lost all hope. Despite this G-d commands Moshe to go speak to Pharaoh! Moshe responds, “Behold if the Jews didn’t listen to me, how do you expect Pharaoh to listen to me?” And, adds Moshe, “I am ‘ARAL SEFAASAYIM’ translated literally an uncircumcised tongue. Here Moshe repeats his speech problem. (Noteworthy: despite the speech about G-d ‘s special ability, Moshe remained uncured of this defect. This is possibly a result or consequence of G-d’s being angry with Moshe.) The above conversation is repeated in Chapter 6 verse 30. In summary we have a reluctant leader. Why did G-d choose such a person as our leader? Some suggest that a reluctant leader is exactly what He wanted. I would suggest that Moshe misunderstood his mission. He thought that it was a redemption mission while in fact it was a preparation mission for Sinai. Had the mission been primarily redemption a person from the tribe of Judah would have selected. A member of the tribe of Levi was chosen because Levites were to be the teachers. To teach Torah one must have reticence, a willingness to accept a nation of learners. G-d appeared to Moshe from a burning bush (Sneh) on the very same mountain (Sinai- notice the connection to Sneh) which would later be where Moshe would go to receive the Torah.

2Good Shabbat