Miller's Musings Parshas Shemos: Down for an Argument

בס''ד

                         

I have a principle that I try to keep to never to have an argument with someone unless there is a possibility that this person will change their mind due to the force of my reasoning.  In our Parsha Moshe takes on the seemingly unwinnable argument…..with Hashem.  Hashem deems Moshe as worthy of leading the Jewish people to salvation and Moshe endeavours to convince Hashem otherwise.  Firstly, what is Moshe thinking to argue with Hashem, the omnipotent Creator of all existence?  How does he have the audacity!  And secondly, what is the point? Does he really think he will be able to produce some point of contention that Hashem had not yet considered?

An amazing idea brought by Reb Shimon Schwab zt’l can be used to answer this essential question that could be asked numerous times in the Torah, that of how we understand how on occasion a mere mortal (such as Avrohom with Sodom) seemingly legitimately debates with G-d.  Reb Schwab explains that in truth for us to ever question G-d or His actions is fundamentally an impossibility.  How can we, as finite beings, questions the ways of One who is infinite and omniscient!  In essence we neither have the right nor the capacity to even attempt to understand something so far beyond the realms of our existence.  And yet there are times that we are given that right and allowed that inconceivable privilege and they are alluded to whenever the Torah talks of Hashem descending to us, as it does this week with the words he tells Moshe “And I have descended to save them”.  This is a sign that Hashem has brought Himself down, as it were, to exist among us and is somehow available and open to the possibility of man contesting His choices. 

Throughout the ages Jews have probed, analysed and contemplated the most difficult legal and theological questions about Hashem and His Torah.   That very notion, that we have been given this permission, is a fact that in truth defies logic.  Nonetheless at the giving of the Torah when it states that “Hashem descended to Har Sinai”, Hashem not only gave us the most precious gift of all, the guide to all of reality and its purpose, He also gave us the possibility of questioning it and delving into it to plumb its depths and immerse ourselves in its teachings.  The starting point is the knowledge of the absolute truth of the Torah and we must accept from the outset that there will always be unanswered questions and ideas that are simply beyond us, due to the reality of our nature versus that of G-d.  At that point we must just recognize them as elemental truths.  But the ability we have been granted to challenge is something we should never grow weary of nor take for granted.  It is one of many of G-d’s gifts and one we must cherish.    

*May the perfection of Shabbos provide all the answers we need*

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם

לרפואה שלימה:  שרה יעל בת ברכה אסתר