{"id":5335,"date":"2016-01-03T13:14:24","date_gmt":"2016-01-03T13:14:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=5335"},"modified":"2016-01-08T01:13:17","modified_gmt":"2016-01-08T01:13:17","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vaera-the-revelation-of-the-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vaera-the-revelation-of-the-name\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Va\u2019era, The Revelation of the Name"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[youtube url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tHzWctHbmNI&amp;feature=youtu.be&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>In this week\u2019s reading from Parashat Va\u2019era (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 6:2-9:35<\/span><\/em>), we read of the presence of God among His people and His power to deliver His people from slavery and bondage.\u00a0 The Lord God spoke to Moshe declaring that He is revealing Himself in a new way to His people saying, \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05d9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Lord continues saying, \u05d3\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05dd \u05d4\u05b2\u05e7\u05b4\u05de\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b5\u05ea \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b0\u05d2\u05bb\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">6:4 \u2018I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned. (NASB)<\/span><\/em> reaffirming the covenant promise that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, He will be their God and He will bring them into the land that He had promised.\u00a0 The Lord instructs Moshe and Aaron to go to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh in the land of Egypt.\u00a0 Moshe goes and performs may signs and miracles; the sign of the staff turning into a serpent (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">7:8-10<\/span><\/em>), turning the Nile River to blood (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">7:15-24<\/span><\/em>), the plague of frogs (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">8:1-15<\/span><\/em>), turning dust into gnats and swarms of insects (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">8:16-31<\/span><\/em>), the livestock are struck with pestilence causing them to die (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">9:1-7<\/span><\/em>), boils break out on all of the Egyptians (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">9:8-17<\/span><\/em>), and\u00a0 the Lord brought a plague of hail mingled with fire (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">9:18-35<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Pharaoh recognizes his sin before God and states, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">9:27 &#8230;\u2018I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones.\u00a0 9:28 \u2018Make supplication to the Lord, for there has been enough of God\u2019s thunder and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 When the hail ceased the Scriptures continue saying that Pharaoh sinned again and hardened his heart both he and his servants.\u00a0 Based upon this week\u2019s portion, troublesome times brings repentance and return, whereas times of blessing can cause a man to build up within his heart a god of his own making to trust and rely upon rather than upon the Lord God in heaven.\u00a0 It seems that this is the reason and the purpose the Lord God has chosen to reveal His Name to Moshe and Israel at this time.\u00a0 Keep this in mind was we continue in the study, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cHow does the revelation of the Name defines who God is and who we are as His people?\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d5<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4: \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05d9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05dd \u05d4\u05b2\u05e7\u05b4\u05de\u05b9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b5\u05ea \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05b0\u05d2\u05bb\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8-\u05d2\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d1\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc: \u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05dd | \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e0\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e7\u05b7\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b4\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9: \u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e1\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05ea \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e6\u05bc\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3\u05b8\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d2\u05b8\u05d0\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b0\u05d8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d2\u05bc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b9\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: \u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e6\u05b4\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e1\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dd: \u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b5\u05d1\u05b5\u05d0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05d0\u05ea\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d9\u05b8\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b5\u05ea \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shemot \/ Exodus 6:2-8<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 6:2 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, \u2018I am the Lord; 6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. 6:4 \u2018I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned. 6:5 \u2018Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. 6:6 \u2018Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, \u2018I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 6:7 \u2018Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 6:8 \u2018I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the Lord.\u2019\u2018 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It is interesting to note how the Lord God spoke to Moshe about His name, the Torah tells us saying, \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4:\u00a0\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">6:2 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, \u2018I am the Lord; (NASB)\u00a0<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Lord says \u201cI am YHVH\u201d (\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4), and the question is how did Moshe understand what the Lord meant when he said <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cI am YHVH\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4)?\u00a0 Did he have an instant revelation on the meaning of the name or did it take time for him to understand what the Lord meant by revealing His name in this new way?\u00a0 The Lord God then tells Moshe that He did not reveal His name to the Patriarchs.\u00a0 He revealed Himself as El Shaddai, the all sufficient one. \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d7\u05b8\u05e7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05d9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 What we read according to the narrative in the Torah is the Lord revealing Himself in power and authority over all, in the way in which He delivers Israel from bondage in Egypt.\u00a0 The Lord God has over over all of creation.<\/p>\n<p>To gain some further insight into the meaning on the revelation of the Name, let\u2019s look at what the rabbis have to say concerning the Name of God.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ramban on Exodus 6:3, Part 1<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> God appeared to the Patriarchs as the Prime Mover behind all natural events.\u00a0 His miracles were apparent to them without recourse to violating the natural order.\u00a0 In times of famine He redeemed them from death and in war from the sword and provided them with wealth and honor and every good thing.\u00a0 These things, like all the promises in the Torah of blessing and curse, are not meted out to a man as his due, as a reward for good deeds and punishment for sin.\u00a0 They constitute miracles (of Divine grace).\u00a0 Man\u2019s own deeds do not automatically give rise to favorable effects or otherwise.\u00a0 But the reward and punishment alluded to in the Torah in this world are in the nature of miracles, hidden ones which the onlookers regard as the workings of nature.\u00a0 But in reality they are the providential allocation of reward and punishment.\u00a0 God said to Moses: I appeared to the Patriarchs as One who assists His chosen ones through the might of my hand (but without violating nature).\u00a0 By My ineffable name expressing the essence of all existence (Exodus 3:14) I was not known to them to introduce innovations changing the natural course of events.\u00a0 Therefore tell the Children of Israel that I am the Lord and let them know My great name through which I shall perform for them wonders that they may know that I am the Lord who does these things.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Ramban tries to explain the difference between the name given to the Patriarchs as opposed to what He is saying now, the Lord reveals Himself as \u05d9-\u05d4-\u05d5-\u05d4.\u00a0 He says that the miracles of God were apparent to the Patriarchs during times of famine and war.\u00a0 Rambam says that these miracles were the product of Divine grace.\u00a0 He says that man\u2019s actions do not automatically give rise to the Lord providing favorable acts, but that the reward and punishments is a reference to the Torah.\u00a0 He continues saying that the Lord assisted the Patriarchs with a mighty hand without violating nature, on the other hand, this deliverance the Lord is bringing upon the people will be achieved by unnatural events so that they will recognize the Lord as the \u05d9-\u05d4-\u05d5-\u05d4.\u00a0 Rashbam continues saying the following:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Rashbam on Exodus 6:3, Part 2<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u2019\u05d5\u05e9\u05de\u05d9 \u05d4, we have to explain the sequence as follows: \u201cAlthough I have revealed Myself to the patriarchs as the attribute of Shaddai, My principal name, the one that represents My essence, etc.\u201d We are faced with a repetition here, hence \u05dc\u05d0 \u05e0\u05d5\u05d3\u05e2\u05ea\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d4\u05dd, \u201cI did not reveal Myself to the patriarchs as My principal attribute but only as My attribute Shaddai. But to you, Moses, I have revealed My principal attribute which I described as \u05d0\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 and \u05d6\u05db\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u2019. In your lifetime I plan to fulfill My promise.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Rashbam\u2019s continuing thoughts on the attribute the Lord God is revealing to Moshe and Israel is in His ability to deliver them from bondage and to fulfill His promises to their fathers.\u00a0 Rashbam focuses upon this idea of \u201cremembering the Lord\u201d (\u05d6\u05db\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d4\u2019) according to His actions for Israel.<br \/>\nShney Luchot HaBrit has the following to say concerning the attribute that is being revealed to Moshe and Israel.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shney Luchot HaBrit, Mishpatim, Torah Ohr 19<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> This is also what is meant when G\u2019d told Moses that He had not needed to reveal Himself to the patriarchs in His aspect of the \u05de\u05d3\u05ea \u05d4\u05e8\u05d7\u05de\u05d9\u05dd, His attribute of Mercy (compare Rashi on Exodus 6:3).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The commentary says the attribute that is being revealed is God\u2019s Mercy.\u00a0\u00a0 Why do they say that God is revealing His mercy only now?\u00a0 The connection between the attribute of mercy may be to that of the \u201cincrease of the strength of the Lord\u201d taken in context of what we are about to see according to the Torah.\u00a0 The Lord God is exalted and glorified as a result of recognizing this attribute in the sense of His interactions with our world through Israel.\u00a0 God\u2019s strength and presence increases through people, including sinners, who turn to Him and call in His Name.\u00a0 This idea of the increase of God\u2019s \u201cstrength\u201d forms the basis of forgiveness, which is coupled to the idea of the Mercy of God and itself constitutes the basis of the continued existence of a world that is destined for destruction.\u00a0 The name of God being revealed is demonstrated in His action of mercy and grace, and our action of remembering what He has done!<\/p>\n<p>Radak has the following to say concerning the revelation of the name.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Radak on Genesis 17:1, Part 2<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0-\u05dc \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9, the word \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9 means \u201cstrong, victorious.\u201d (root \u05e9\u05d3\u05d3) We find the term appearing in that sense in Ezekiel 1,24, \u05db\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc \u05de\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05d1\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9, \u201clike the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of Shaddai.\u201d Also in Ezekiel 10,5 \u05db\u05e7\u05d5\u05dc \u05d0-\u05dc \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9 it appears in the same sense. G-d meant to tell him that although you are physically weak and Sarai is barren, I, G\u2019d will overcome all these impediments and the laws of nature are subject to My control, so that I can change them whenever it suits me. G\u2019d referred to this power again in Exodus 6,3 when Moses had despaired of his mission. He told them that he had already demonstrated this power when He made the three matriarchs, all of whom had been biologically barren, overcome such a handicap so that each bore a child or children. G\u2019d had responded to the prayers of these people or their husbands and altered the laws of nature in order to fulfill their requests. When the word \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9 is meant to be an attribute, it should be spelled \u05e9\u05d3\u05d3\u05d9, shaddeday.\u201d It would then mean something akin to Proverbs 28,23 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05d9\u05d7 \u05d0\u05d3\u05dd \u05d0\u05d7\u05e8\u05d9 \u05d7\u05df \u05d9\u05de\u05e6\u05d0, i.e. that as a result of being rebuked, the subject of the rebuke will eventually find favour (in the eyes of the rebuker).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Radak focuses upon the the word \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201csufficient one\u201d<\/span><\/em> and explains that the Lord is able to overcome all impediments, and that even the laws of nature are subject to His control.\u00a0 This implies what others have been saying concerning the revelation of the Name, that we understand who God is by the way that He works in our lives.\u00a0 If we do not seek for Him to be in our lives, we will not see Him working.\u00a0 There is a lot that can be said concerning those who believe and those who do not, we who believe can see the Lord working in our lives daily.\u00a0 Those who do not believe in the Lord and in Yeshua His Messiah, do not see and cannot see until they make the invitation for the Lord to come into their lives.<\/p>\n<p>Sforno has the following to say concerning the name of God.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Sforno on Genesis 17:1, Part 2<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u05d0\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d0-\u05dc \u05e9\u05d3\u05d9, \u201cI am the One Who is sufficient unto Himself by My very existence to carry out My special function the creation of the universe all by Myself without assistance by anyone else. [The word \u05d3\u05d9 expresses this self-sufficiency of the Lord\/Creator. Ed.] The very opposite is true of all created phenomena other than the Creator. [the difference between G\u2019d and creatures is that G\u2019d is a \u201cself-starter,\u201d whereas all other phenomena require something to activate them even when performing the functions for which they have been created. Ed.] This all means that the recipient of a visual image, \u05de\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4, a vision, becomes aware of the existence of the Creator and His power, without him however becoming aware of underlying causes of such. The patriarchs became witnesses to G\u2019d performing \u201cinvisible\u201d miracles, as distinct from the \u201cvisible\u201d miracles performed by Moses and other prophets after him to some extent. [an \u201cinvisible\u201d miracle maybe recognized as such because the time and place has been foretold to the beneficiary, as in the case where the angels told Avram that Sarah would give birth to a son within the year. \u201cVisible\u201d miracles, are for instance, water turning into blood, or all the firstborn of one nation dying at the same time [after this event having been announced.] the latter type of miracle says more about G\u2019d as the originator of all that occurs in the universe than does the former kind of miracle. This latter kind of insight was not revealed by G\u2019d before Moses, as we quoted form Exodus 6:3<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Sforno speaks of the Lord God being a self starter and of seeing a vision and becoming aware of the Lord God in heaven.\u00a0 What is invisible becomes manifest in the visible, in this world.\u00a0 The revelation of the Name is found in the distinction of what God is doing here for Israel, the difference between <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cinvisible\u201d miracles<\/span><\/em>, as opposed to the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cvisible\u201d miracles<\/span><\/em> the Lord is performing on behalf of Israel.\u00a0 The Lord is being made known in this world through His people.\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Isaiah 49:3<\/span><\/em> states <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cYou are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.\u201d (ESV)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 But how is the glory of God revealed in His people?\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 84:7<\/span><\/em> brings this context into the light, saying, \u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d9\u05b5\u05dc\u05b0\u05db\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b5\u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05dc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d7\u05b8\u05d9\u05b4\u05dc \u05d9\u05b5\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e6\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05df:\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">84:7 They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The rabbis interpret <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Tehillim \/ Psalms 84:7<\/span><\/em> according to the Talmud in the following way.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Talmud Bavli Berakhot 64a<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> He who goes out from the Synagogue and enters the House of Study to occupy himself with Torah is worthy to receive the presence of the Shekinah; as it is said, \u201cThey go from strength to strength, every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05d9\u05d5\u05e6\u05d0 \u05de\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05db\u05e0\u05e1\u05ea \u05d5\u05e0\u05db\u05e0\u05e1 \u05dc\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05d4\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05d5\u05e2\u05d5\u05e1\u05e7 \u05d1\u05ea\u05d5\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d6\u05d5\u05db\u05d4 \u05d5\u05de\u05e7\u05d1\u05dc \u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05db\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e9\u05e0\u05d0\u05de\u05e8 (\u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05d3, \u05d7) \u05d9\u05dc\u05db\u05d5 \u05de\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc \u05d0\u05dc \u05d7\u05d9\u05dc \u05d9\u05e8\u05d0\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05e6\u05d9\u05d5\u05df.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The rabbis say the meaning of going from strength to strength is a reference to the one who goes from the Synagogue to the House of Study.\u00a0 The strength to strength is of one who occupies himself with the study of Torah for the purpose of dwelling in the presence of the Glory (Shekinah) of God.\u00a0 The point is as we study God\u2019s word His Glory descends upon us, His people.\u00a0 The Aramaic Targum states something very similar, \u05d7\u00a0 \u05d0\u05d6\u05dc\u05d9\u05df \u05e6\u05d3\u05d9\u05e7\u05d9\u05d0 \u05de\u05df \u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05de\u05e7\u05d3\u05e9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05d1\u05d9\u05ea \u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05ea\u05d7\u05de\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e2\u05d5\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4\u05d5\u05df \u05e7\u05d3\u05dd \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d9 \u05e9\u05db\u05d9\u05e0\u05ea\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e9\u05e8\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05e6\u05d9\u05d5\u05df\u05c3\u00a0 \u05d8\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d5\u05d3 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e6\u05d1\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e7\u05d1\u05d9\u05dc \u05e6\u05dc\u05d5\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d0\u05e6\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0\u05dc\u05d4\u05d0 \u05d3\u05d9\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1 \u05dc\u05e2\u05dc\u05de\u05d9\u05df\u05c3 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">84:8 The righteous go from the sanctuary to the academies; their toil in the Torah will be manifest before the Lord, whose presence abides in Zion. 84:9\u00a0 David said, \u201cO Lord, God Sabaoth, receive my prayer; hear, O God of Jacob, forever.\u201d (EMC)\u00a0<\/span><\/em> Judaism and the rabbis are always emphasizing the importance of studying Torah.\u00a0 In addition, it is interesting how Ein Yaakov\u2019s comentary on Berakhot 9:22 interprets the meaning of this Psalm.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Ein Yaakov on Berakhot 9:22<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> And further said R. Abin the Levite: \u201cHe who leaves his friend [after escorting him a distance] must not say \u2018Go in peace\u2019 but Go with peace.\u2019 for Jethro said unto Moses (Ex. 4:18) Go with peace. He went and succeeded, but David said to Abshalom (II Sam. 15:9) Go in peace. He went and hanged himself.\u201d Further said R. Abin the Levite: \u201cHe who takes leave of the dead body [after burial] must not say \u2018Go with peace\u2019 but \u2018Go in peace,\u2019 for it is said (Gen. 15:15) But thou shalt come to thy fathers in peace.\u201d R. Levi b. Chiya said : \u201cHe who goes out from the synagogue [after prayer] and enters the house of learning and studies the Torah will be permitted to wait on the Divine Presence, for it is said (Ps. 84:8) They go from strength to strength; each of them will appear before God in Zion.\u201d R. Elazar in the name of R. Chanina said : \u201cScholars advance peace in the world, as it is said (Is. 54, 13.) And all thy children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children. Read not Banaich (Thy Children), but read it Bonaich (thy builders)\u201d; Great peace have they who love thy Torah and there is no stumbling for them (Ps. 119:115). Peace be within thy rampart, prosperity within thy palaces (Ib. 122, 7). For my brethren and associates\u2019 sake I would fain speak peace concerning Thee (Ib.). For the sake of the house of the Lord our God. I would seek thy good. The Lord will give strength unto his people; The Lord will bless his people with peace.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Ein Yaakov interprets the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cstrength to strength\u201d<\/span><\/em> as going from the synagogue to house of study, refers to going from prayer to studying Torah.\u00a0 He then draws a parallel to being at peace, and the one who studies Torah and applies it to his or her life is at peace with God.\u00a0 He says <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cGreat peace have they who love thy Torah and there is no stumbling for them (Ps. 119:115). Peace be within thy rampart, prosperity within thy palaces (Ib. 122, 7). For my brethren and associates\u2019 sake I would fain speak peace concerning Thee (Ib.). For the sake of the house of the Lord our God. I would seek thy good. The Lord will give strength unto his people; The Lord will bless his people with peace.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Going from prayer to studying God\u2019s word will help to focus one\u2019s heart and life for the Lord God in heaven in Yeshua the Messiah!\u00a0 Doing these things will bring peace from within that only the Lord Himself can give us.<\/p>\n<p>The rabbis approach to understranding the revelation of the name (refer to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Shney Luchot HaBrit, Vaetchanan, Torah Ohr 86-88<\/span><\/em>) the kabbalistic approach the rabbis take is related to the word \u05e7\u05b5\u05df (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">nest, cell, chamber, shell, habitation, from Tehillim \/ Psalms 84:3<\/span><\/em>) and\u00a0 the words \u05de\u05b8\u05e6\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05ea \u05d5\u05bc\u05d3\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 | \u05e7\u05b5\u05df \u05dc\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201chas found a house, and a nest, a nest for herself.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This is taken to be interpreted as understanding the Lord God in heaven.\u00a0 The Lord God is understood in two Sefarot, Understanding (\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4), and Wisdom (\u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d4).\u00a0 Note the possible translations of the word for Understanding (\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4) and for wisdom (\u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d4).\u00a0 Understanding is related to intellect, prudence, and comprehension.\u00a0 Wisdom is related to intelligence, knowledge, prudence, and insight.\u00a0 The rabbis say that <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cWhen G\u2019d\u2019s name is spelled \u05d0-\u05d4-\u05d9-\u05d4, this symbolizes His manifestation in the emanation \u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4, whereas when it is spelled \u05d9-\u05d4-\u05d5-\u05d4 it symbolizes His being manifest in the emanation \u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d4.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 There are parallels here to the Lord manifesting Himself in both the seen and unseen (in two worlds, spirit and tangible).\u00a0 The name of the Lord (\u05d9-\u05d4-\u05d5-\u05d4) is manifested in understanding and wisdom.\u00a0 The concept here the rabbis are trying to get us to understand is that the Lord is manifest in the wisdom and understanding of Torah.\u00a0 How does this work?\u00a0 This occurs by walking and living in the commandments.\u00a0 We also know according to the Tanach, the Holy Spirit is responsible for writing the commandments of God upon our hearts.\u00a0 This means that we are to endeavor to keep the commandments by actively placing them on our hearts.\u00a0 Actively seeking the Lord God in heaven and actively walking in His ways.\u00a0 This could also be read to imply a future expectation.\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Jeremiah 31:33<\/span><\/em> we read that in the new covenant, God will write his Torah upon our hearts.\u00a0 He says, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cI will put My Torah within them and on their heart I will write it\u201d<\/span> <\/em>(<em>Jeremiah 31:33<\/em>).\u00a0 This means that God will actually change our nature, circumcising our hearts as it were, to remove from us the waywardness of our evil inclination.\u00a0 Paul speaks of this transformation as <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Titus 3:5<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Living and obeying God\u2019s Torah is purposed for our Understanding (\u05d1\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4), and Wisdom (\u05d7\u05db\u05de\u05d4).\u00a0 In another passage, Paul states, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cTherefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Corinthians 5:17<\/span><\/em>). Paul points to the lives of believers as evidence of being in a covenant relationship with the Lord when he says, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cbeing manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Corinthians 3:3<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 All of these things happen to believers as a fulfillment of the promise of the covenant of God to Israel in the Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 And so, obeying the Lord God according to His word is walking according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh.<\/p>\n<p>This week we look at what God meant by revealing His Name.\u00a0 In the revelation of the Name the Lord God is giving to Moshe and to Israel, we see His Mercy and Grace, His power and ability to overcome all impediments, His power and authority over all of creation, He is the author of both the invisible, and the visible miracles, and that we are called to live according to His word for His glory!\u00a0 All of these things point us back to the covenant relationship and to Israel, a people chosen by God who live humble and prayerful lives before the Lord.\u00a0 A people who are hungry for His word, and who greatly desire to draw near at any chance we get.\u00a0 With all of these things in mind regarding the revelation of the Name, Do theses things reveal anything about you and your relationship with the Lord?\u00a0 How about your relationship with the Messiah Yeshua? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/BTT_Parashat-Va\u2019era-2016.pdf\" rel=\"\">BTT_Parashat Va\u2019era-2016<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[youtube url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tHzWctHbmNI&amp;feature=youtu.be&#8221;] In this week\u2019s reading from Parashat Va\u2019era (Shemot \/ Exodus 6:2-9:35), we read of the presence of God among His people and His power to deliver His people from slavery and bondage.\u00a0 The Lord God spoke to Moshe declaring that He is revealing Himself in a new way to His people saying, \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5341,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5335","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5341"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}