Section: Avodah Category: Innocent Observations | Thanks, But We Only Want To See The Magic Show | The pasuk tells us that after Krias Yam Suf, "Vayaaminu BaShem U'B'Moshe Avdo", Bnei Yisroel believed in Hashem and in His servant Moshe. It didn't seem to last especially long, as three days after they left the Yam Suf and ran into their first rough patch, they complained to Moshe that they were thirsty. This started a pattern of complaints against Hashem and challenges to Moshe that we find throughout the rest of the Torah. In Tehilim (78) it discusses in length all the rebellions and mistrust that Bnei Yisroel showed towards Hashem in the Midbar, Vayidabru BeLokim (78:19), Lo He'eminu BeiLokim (78:22). What happened? What went wrong?
We often exhibit a strange kind of schizophrenia when it comes to relating to our Gedolim. On one hand when we need something beyond our reach, we go running to them for Brachos and the hopes that they can pull off a miracle for us. Yet when it comes to matters of halacha we apply selective hearing, and tend to listen to those Psakim that conform to our need. If they don't we are off to shop for a different Psak. And when it comes to hashkafa we tune them out completely. What do they really know about the real world anyway? Or, they didn't really say it and it was made up. Or, it doesn't really apply to me.
Shem Havaya is the Shem Hashem of Rachamim, of Nissim, of Hashem beyond the teva of the world. We love when Hashem deals with us with the Shem Havaya. It makes for glorious miracles beyond human comprehension. We love the attention and the rachamim that Hashem bestows on us. The Shem Elokim however, is a totally different story. It is Hashem's way of working cloaked behind the veil of nature. Elokim is gematria HaTeva. Elokim is the not so good things that happen to us. Although really good, we don't really appreciate them, since we refuse to see the Yad Hashem behind it.
Paroh was the ultimate manipulator of nature. He knew that based on the laws of the world, he had Bnei Yisroel in a suffocating death lock. He knew Elokim, he knew the nature of Bnei Yisroel's enslavement and the total impossibility for them to ever break out. When Moshe came and warned him about Hashem, the ability of the creator of nature to break its laws and turn it on its head, Paroh laughed. No such thing! "Mi Hashem Asher Eshma BiKolo" (Shemos 5:2) there is no such power as Hashem, the world works in accordance with a certain system.
We, Bnei Yisroel, on the other hand, who have been the beneficiary of the Yad Hashem, yearn to see Him and His mighty hand once again. It is Elokim that we have trouble with. We need to be told, Anochi Hashem, I Hashem - I am Elokecha, it is Me who stands behind everything, including the good and the bad.
Krias Yam Suf was fun. It was soooo cool. We saw the Yad HeGedola, the Yad Hashem and we were able to point and say "Zeh Keili". Moshe was the greatest, as he stood there so nobly with his staff thrust into the air, as Hashem's agent, splitting the raging sea. But now tachlis, it is three days later and we are dying of thirst. Where is the big miracle? We don't want to hear Moshe the very human Tzaddik preaching about bitachon. We don't want to hear a mussar shmuess by someone who seems to be above nature. We are human and we need water now. We need food now. We want Moshe the Eved Hashem to do what he knows how to do best. Bring us a miracle from Hashem and keep the hashkafa to yourself.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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