In the true spirit of a Siyum, the tenth grade began Parshat Vaetchanan on the day that we completed Parshat Devarim. Moshe is pleading with Hashem for permission to enter the land of Israel with the nation. He precedes his plea with a statement of praise.
כד ה' אלקים , אַתָּה הַחִלּוֹתָ לְהַרְאוֹת אֶת-עַבְדְּךָ, אֶת-גָּדְלְךָ, וְאֶת-יָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה--אֲשֶׁר מִי-אֵל בַּשָּׁמַיִם וּבָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶׂה כְמַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְכִגְבוּרֹתֶךָ.
Hashem G-d, You have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand, that what power in the sky or land (is there) that can do like your acts and your strengths?
Tamar Fedida asked a question, “How can Moshe say, ‘You have begun’? Hasn’t Hashem already made His greatness manifest?” We discussed this as we munched on freshly made waffles with whipped cream and berries and sipped our coffee (with whipped cream as well).
Chazal tell us that Avraham was the first to address Hashem as “אדו-ני, my Master”. Hashem’s “presence” in the world was hidden, subtle. Avraham discovered Hashem through the study of nature, by discerning the patterns of movement of the entities in the night sky. He understood that the world did not function in a random way, and certainly not according to the whims of the sub-deities associated with the natural forces. Avraham recognized that there must be a Divine cause that was the source of all the wisdom manifest in the world. He showed his fellow men that Hasehm is the true Master of the world.
In Sefer Shemot, when Hashem sends Moshe on his mission, Hashem says:
וארא אל אברהם אל יצחק ואל יעקב בקל ש-די ושמי ה' לא נודעתי להם
Although G-d revealed himself to the forefathers through the name, קל ש-די , but to Moshe, He would use His most sacred name to reveal Himself to Moshe and Israel.
The Ramban explains that the השגחה, Divine intervention, operated through hidden means to insure the success of the Avot. These were so subtle that they might even have been mistaken for fortuitous acts of nature. Only in Mitzrayim did Hashem begin to reveal Himself through overt miracles.
When Moshe says, “אתה החילות”, he is not negating the miracles that have happened thus far. He is explaining that each stage of miracles has led, not only to a practical solution, but to a greater understanding of the Derech Hashem. The manifestation of strength that allowed for the complete conquest of the great nations of Sichon and Og revealed yet another dimension of Hashem’s omnipotence. Moshe is asking to be allowed to witness and learn from the new dimensions of Divine Revelation that will be revealed when the nation begins its conquest of the land and settles it.
I wish you all a rejuvenating and fun vacation. We look forward to continuing with our studies after winter break!
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