A Quick Thought -- Parashas Va'eira

At the beginning of this week’s Parashah, Hashem commands Moshe to return go before Pharaoh and demand that the Jews be freed to leave Egypt. “וַיְדַבֵּר ד' אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר אֲנִי ד' דַּבֵּר אֶל פַּרְעֹה מֶלֶךְ מִצְרַיִם אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי דֹּבֵר אֵלֶיךָ:, And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: I am Hashem. Tell Pharaoh King of Egypt all that I am telling you” (6:29).


The opening phrase, Ani Hashem, seems somewhat out of place here. Hashem isn’t telling Moshe to say that to Pharaoh; He seems to be making that statement to Moshe. Rashi explains that Hashem is telling Moshe “I am Hashem, who is capable of sending you and carrying out My word.”

There is a vital lesson to be leraned about succeeding in avodas Hashem and in inspiring others: Ani Hashem is a prerequisite for the task. Recognize that that you are on a mission and believe in what you are doing.

Hashem’s statement was also telling Moshe the heart of Pharaoh’s problem, and what the underlying message was.

In Parashas Mikeitz, when Pharaoh (the same Pharaoh or his ancestor) had dreamt, he stood “al haye’or, on the Nile.” Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 69:3) tell us that the Egyptians worshipped the Nile, but Pharaoh placed himself al, above, his own god.

Yosef then interprets the dreams to mean that there would be 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. He sets out an ambitious plan preparing for those trying times ahead. Pharaoh recognizes Yosef’s capabilities and appoints him Viceroy. He gives Yosef his signet ring and Yosef rides through the streets on the royal chariot., with the people lauding him. Pharaoh recognizes that the fate of his people is not his own hands. Despite this recognition, he declares to Yosef: Ani Pharaoh! I am the ruler. I am the demi-god. I am in control.


[This may be what Yehdah was telling Yosef at the start of Vayigash when he said “Ki kamocha k’Pharaoh, you are just like Pharaoh.” You know that you don’t control this world, after all there’s a famine in the land. Yet you are treating us unjustly, without fear of Heavenly retribution, because you – like your king – blindly insist that you are in control.]


Hashem was telling Moshe that this was the issue here. I am Hashem, Who is truly the Director of all events. This is the point of your going to Pharaoh. If he doesn’t listen when you speak, meet him at the Nile – where he goes to try to fool others into believing that he is god (Rashi 7:14) – and call his bluff. If it works, if he and the Egyptians recognize this, fine. If not, the miracles and the makkos will continue until they do.


Indeed, at every turn – even when his sorcerers and servants acknowledged Hashem – Pharaoh refused to give in.


Human nature is such that people delude themselves into self-assuredness. When that happens, Hashem often seeks to shake them out of that complacency.


The more we truly recognize Ani Hashem¸ the more we avoid the need for unwanted challenges, and the more we open ourselves to berachah.

Gut Shabbos.