Parshat Shemos 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha that Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu to go to Bnei Yisrael and inform them that Hashem has spoken to him and promised He will take them out of Mitzrayim. Hashem assures Moshe that they will believe him, as the pasuk says (Chapter 3, Pasuk 18), V'Shamu L'Kolecha. Yet, Moshe Rabbeinu responds a few pasukim later by questioning this promise. Moshe responds and says (Chapter 4, Pasuk 1), Vaya'an Moshe Vayomer V'Hen Lo Ya'aminu Li V'Lo Yishme'u B'Koli. Immediately afterwards, Hashem gives three signs to Moshe Rabbeinu to show Bnei Yisrael in order to prove to them that he was sent by Gd.
If Hashem was certain that Bnei Yisrael would listen to Moshe, why did He now give him signs? And how could Moshe argue with Hashem's claim that they would listen to him? And what was the significance of the three signs?
The Medrash Rabbah on our parsha (3,12) seems to suggest that once Moshe stated that they wouldn't listen, it became self-fulfilling. Rav Tzadok explains this phenomenon based on the Gemara in Erchin 17A which states Dor Lefi Parnas, every generation has its leader and Moshe was the leader of Am Yisrael. And the leader is the heart of the nation so when Moshe said and felt in his heart that they won't listen, this lack of belief entered into their hearts as well and required a response by Gd.
Rav Tzadok explains that while Moshe Rabbeinu felt that Bnei Yisrael believed the Geulah would come about, hence Hashem told him V'Shamu L'Kolecha, they didn't see how it could be. Bnei Yisrael were in a place of impurity and were themselves involved in serious aveiros. Chazal teach in Avos (Chapter 4, Mishnah 28) that the source of all sin is Kinah, Ta'avah V'Kavod. And these three negative traits lead to the major aveiros of murder, adultery, and Avodah Zarah respectively. And all of these categories of sin and evil were found in Mitzrayim and Bnei Yisrael struggled with them all. How would they be redeemed from such a low state?
The answer to their question as expressed by Moshe is found in the different signs Moshe was given. The first sign was Moshe threw his staff to the ground and it became a snake. When Moshe was told to grab the snake by its tail, it reverted back to a staff.
Rav Tzadok teaches that this sign represents the sin of the snake in Gan Eden. The sin of the snake was one of temptation and desire for physical pleasure. And this desire for physical pleasure leads to Giluy Arayos. Bnei Yisrael were taught an important lesson by the sign of Moshe's staff. When Moshe grabbed the snake, it reverted to a staff.
The Gemara in Kiddushin 30B teaches Im Paga Becha Menuval Zeh Mashchehu L'Beis Ha'Medrash. If you meet this disgusting creature, drag him into the Beis Medrash. When one is faced with his yetzer hara, he must drag him into the Beis Medrash. One can do Teshuvah and change a situation of sin into one of a mitzvah. Moshe grabbed the snake, a symbol of temptation and desire, and turned it back into a staff of Gd. Though they were in a low state, Bnei Yisrael were taught they could turn things around and take the initiative and be worthy of Geulah.
The same thing was true with the next sign. Another source of evil and sin is Kinah, jealousy, which leads to anger and even murder in extreme situations. The symbol of this evil is the Metzora who gossips and speaks ill of his fellow man. This was the second sign given to Moshe Rabbeinu and once again Bnei Yisrael were taught a lesson about Teshuvah. One can change and remove this evil just as Moshe returned his hand and the Tzara'as disappeared.
The last sign was that Moshe took the waters of the Nile and poured it on the ground and it became blood. But the blood was not returned to water afterwards. This is because this sign represents Avodah Zarah, idolatry, since the Egyptians worshipped the Nile. And Avodah Zarah is something which must be wiped out. As opposed to desire and jealousy which can be channeled towards spiritual pursuits, the desire for Avodah Zarah needs to be eradicated. Hence the waters of the Nile remained blood.
These signs showed Bnei Yisrael that though they were in a low spiritual state, one can do Teshuvah and turn things around. One needs to channel his energy and desire towards mitzvos and Ma'asim Tovim. One must refocus his desire for pleasure to one of Torah and spiritual growth. This is what enabled Bnei Yisrael to be redeemed from Mitzrayim and this is how we each can each achieve our own personal Geulah.
Good Shabbos
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