>Parashat Vaera
>From the book ‘Me’ever Lamefursam’:
>“God spoke to Moses, and He said to him, "I am the Lord.” [Exodus 6:2]
>It is known that the word “speak” ‘vaidaber’ [in Hebrew] means speaking harshly and that the name "God" [Elokim, in Hebrew] symbolizes the degree of judgment. If so, one must ask: Why is God speaking with Moses - the Lord of all the prophets, the Rabbi of all Israel throughout all generations – in a harsh manner?
>Rashi explains - that Moses said: “O Lord! Why have You harmed those people?”, which means that since I went to speak to Pharaoh, the work of the people of Israel increased and You [God] have not yet saved Israel! The Gemara says regarding this: [The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moshe] “Woe over those who are gone and are no longer found” = it’s a pity that the three fathers passed away from the world, and I can’t find someone like them, because they worked God without asking questions.
>Let’s explain – God said to our ancestor Abraham that the whole land would be his, but when he needed a small piece of land to bury his wife - he paid a very high sum of money for it. Ostensibly, why should he pay for something that belongs to him?!
>Also, when he took his son Isaac to the binding, even though God told him that he will see descendants from Isaac - Abraham did not ask questions nor 'only' tried to understand...
>Whereas you, Moshe, you just started your mission and you already asking me: " Why have You harmed?!” The fathers throughout their lives have not asked questions, while you already doubt me?!
>[Here are a few questions about our Parasha:]
>1. "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, >'Provide a sign for yourselves,'> you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff, [and] cast [it] before Pharaoh; it will become a serpent.'" [Exodus 7:09]
>It should have been saying: >"'Provide a sign for us!"> Why did the verse use the word "for yourselves"?
>The difference between a fake sign [miracle] that a person is trying to perform, and a true sign [miracle] that takes place by a divine power is that: the fake sign only arouses the amazement of the viewers, while those who perform it are not surprised at all. On the other hand, the miraculous divine sign is also amazed by the eyes of the righteous - to whom it occurs. And this is the meaning of the verse: >"Provide a sign for yourselves" - even for your own eyes it would be an amazing sign!
>2. “All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink because they could not drink from the water of the Nile.” [Exodus 7:24]
>If the Egyptians did not drink for a week, how did they survive?
>They did not drink from the water they dug, but they did drink from the salt water that is not suitable for drinking.
>3. “And the magician-priests said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God!” But Pharaoh’s heart stiffened, and he would not heed them, as the LORD had spoken.” [Exodus 8:15]
>After the magicians told Pharaoh that this was entirely God’s action, what made Pharaoh strengthen his heart?
>Because he saw that >the lice were only in the dust,> and the palace of Pharaoh (as well as the halls of all the rich of Egypt) were made of marble and were cleaned every day. Therefore, there was no dirt nor lice in them, and Pharaoh was not harmed by it and therefore he strengthened his heart!
>Copyrights Approval
>The book: Me’ever Lamefursam
> Author: Rabbi Yaakov Maavri
> Number to purchase the book [in Hebrew]: +97250-7523086
Email: >meeverlamefursam@gmail.com
Translated with the approval of the book’s author.
Translator: Dor Graydi