#14— Parshat Vaera
We want to talk with you! Open the chat at the bottom right of your screen to chat live or click here
Hope when things get worse
If things are getting worse rather than better, then what is our hope?
Things getting worse – that’s what seemed to happen to Israel at the end of the previous parsha. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh to seek relief from the oppression. But what’s the result? Rather than Pharaoh letting the people go, the temperature in “the furnace of affliction” goes up significantly. Pharaoh oppresses the people of Israel even more.
Moses is despondent. He asks G-d, “Why did you send me? …You have not delivered your people at all” (Exodus 5:23).
But the L-RD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh…” (Exodus 6:1).
Yes the situation indeed gets worse for G-d’s people. Pharaoh hardens his heart and doesn’t want to let Israel go. But in the end it only serves to make the redemption G-d provides more glorious. G-d is going to make His name known.
The Revelation of G-d’s name
We read at the beginning of Parshat Vaera, “G-d spoke to Moses and said to him, ‘I am the L-RD’” (Exodus 6:2).
In saying “I am HASHEM“ G-d uses His personal name. The name which He explained to Moses from the burning bush as “I am who I am.”
The emphasis on G-d’s name continues as He continues to speak. “I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as G-d almighty [El Shaddai], but by my name the L-RD [HASHEM], I did not make myself known to them” (Exodus 6:3).
When we read the book of Genesis we see the four letter name of G-d, HASHEM, is also used there. G-d’s personal name was also known to the patriarchs.
If this is so, then what does G-d mean when He says “with my name the L-RD [HASHEM] I did not make myself known”?
It must mean that G-d is now making His name especially known in what He is about to do. It means Israel will get to know the great “I AM” in a deeper way than did the patriarchs. They will experience and see His mighty acts of redemption and His entering into special relationship with Israel in a way the patriarchs never saw or experienced. In what He will do, HASHEM unfolds as it were His holy Name. He further unveils who He is by what He does!
In the midst of Moses’ and Israel’s despair G-d’s message is “I am the L-RD! I will show you who I am!”
Good news for Israel
The good news to Israel is that G-d remembers His covenant. That He heard their groaning is typical of Him. That is how the G-d of Israel is toward His people.
“Say therefore to people of Israel, I am the L-RD [HASHEM], and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6).
And indeed as we read our parsha we see how this begins to unfold. The dark demonic powers of Egypt – Egypt’s magicians can also muster some quite impressive miracles – and the stubbornness of Pharaoh only serve to show that the power of the great I AM, Israel’s redeemer, is no match for any rival. G-d says to stubborn Pharaoh, “For this purpose I raised you up, to show my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).
But G-d’s unfolding of His holy name doesn’t stop with this mighty act of redemption from oppression. The good news for Israel continues, “I will take you to be my people and I will be your G-d” (Exodus 6:7).
This is a foundational promise, again rooted in who G-d is. It is another part of the revelation of His Holy Name. It also reveals who the One who called Himself “I am who I am” truly is. Yes, He is the Holy One, but also the Holy One of Israel! He makes Israel His own! His intention is to make Israel His treasured possession!
We see this unfold in the story. G-d brings Israel to Mount Sinai. He enters into covenant with them. He gives them His righteous laws and even instructs them to make a portable sanctuary so He can dwell among His people!
A Promise that Remains Standing
But does the covenant at Mount Sinai exhaust this promise? G-d be praised for His mercy, that’s not the case.
Why? Because when G-d makes His covenant at Mount Sinai there is a problem.
No, there is no fault on G-d’s side, perish the thought! But there is fault with us people. We are sinful and prone to break G-d’s covenant. Israel runs the serious risk of ending up under the curses for breaking G-d’s covenant instead of being G-d’s treasured possession.
That’s why it is so important that this promise remains standing: “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your G-d.”
This promise remains standing all through scripture, to the point that even though Israel broke G-d’s covenant, the L-RD through the Messiah makes a new covenant with Israel. A covenant in which the problem of sin is dealt with fully. A covenant based on complete forgiveness. A covenant in which G-d writes His law on the hearts of His people. (Jeremiah 31:31-34.)
Yes, “I will take you to be my people and I will be your G-d” will be completely fulfilled. And yes, He will dwell forever in the midst of His people. The name of Jerusalem one day will be “The L-RD is there” (Ezekiel 48:35).
The great “I am who I am” reveals who He is especially in His redemption and adoption of His people!
He did so when He brought the sons of Israel out of Egypt – but He didn’t stop there. The prophets understood that the G-d who made Himself known to them will never forsake His people. He will yet bring about an even greater redemption. All this is anchored in the surest foundation there is, G-d’s own words: “I am the L-RD.”
“I am the L-RD.” I am HASHEM.” Who G-d is always has been and will remain the surest and strongest anchor point for our souls, even when things are getting worse before they are getting better.
“I am the L-RD.” Because of that, the great I AM secured the ultimate redemption when He gave Jesus the Messiah as the ultimate Passover Lamb. We will talk more about that next week in Parshat Bo. For now if you want to talk with us, don’t hesitate to use the chat option.