Shemot (Ex. 1:1-6:1)

“Who Are You?”

            Parasha Shemot brings us into the book known in English as Exodus. We are introduced to Moses, an Israelite born man, who was taken in by Pharaoh’s daughter as a baby. After a series of events as a young man, he runs away to Midian and lives a quiet life until he is approached by Hashem. This event takes place in chapter 3, verses 1-15. While tending his father-in-law’s flock, Moses sees a burning bush and hears a voice. The voice calls him by name and it is the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Hashem tells him that He wishes for him to free His people (the Israelites) from Pharaoh. Later in the parasha, Moses agrees to take on this command.

            “Shemot” is translated as names and I find that very applicable. When G-d speaks to Moses, Moses asks who he should tell the Israelites that he is speaking for. Hashem tells him that he is “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh” or “I Am Who I Am” and that the people should call Him Adonai or The L-rd.

            Moses was given his name by the Pharaoh’s daughter when she found him in the Nile River. It means “draw out” and his life purpose ended up being to “draw out” the Israelites from Egypt. Another note that I’d like to point out is that Hashem picked a bush, which is low, rather than a tall tree to address Moses. Some interpret this as G-d not wanting to appear haughty. However, I feel that it was done to remind us to not have our noses in the air, so to speak. In other word, we must always remember to humble ourselves before G-d.