Thursday, January 7, 2010

What we Learned in Egypt

i
Moses’ mother must send Moses into the river in a basket: because the Egyptians are vigilant to find hidden Israelite sons, to kill them.

Pharaoh’s daughter sees the basket and takes it from the water. She opens it and she sees Moses.

She adopts Moses as a son. She names him Moses—Moshe; an Egyptian name to say: she drew him from the water.

*
The Egyptians draw out, uncover, pry out what is hidden.

This is the trait that gives Moses his name.


ii
And Moses gleans from this trait.

He journeys out from the Egyptian royal court, to his kinsmen; he witnessed their burden.

He goes out into the desert, he sees the vision from God of the burning bush; he says: I will turn from my path to understand this vision (after Israel cried out).

From his life of wealth, Moses seeks out hidden injustices.

In a time when Israel cried out—when God’s help is missing—he seeks the mysteriousness of God.

Egypt has taught Moses—who teaches us.


iii

To seek what we do not see:

That is the lesson of Egypt.

That is the lesson from the land of our suffering, from our suffering.


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Shabbat Shalom, Abe

Verses cited: Ex. 2:10-11,23; 3:3

Please pray for the recovery of Ahuva Rachel bat Orah

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