HaShem (for Parshat VaErah)

i
God makes Man. And the Man searches among all the creatures for a partner. He finds none.

God makes the Man sleep; the Man wakes, and the Woman is there.

The Man was searching for a different creature, not for the Woman.

So his plans are upended (to his delight) in joining with another.

*

The Man and the Woman sin in the Garden. God expels them.

But God also makes garments for them, cloth against the harsh world.

God has joined these two people together, upturning the course of things.

God comes to terms with Sin, the upturning of all.

*

(And this is the story that first uses God’s name HaShem.)

ii

Moses’ father went… and took a wife, in the face of infanticide against the Israelites.

Moses is born.

*

God says to Moses:

I am HaShem.

I have not made myself known to the world by My name HaShem until now.

I, HaShem, will free the people from their long slavery.

*

Joining another, Moses’ father upends his world.

So HaShem answers in kind, upending the world.

__________

Shabbat Shalom, Abe

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