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Divine Encounter in Egypt
Zohar, parashat Kedoshim p. 84b; translation by Simcha Treister
"These are the words which Moses spoke to
all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Aravah opposite
the Red Sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Lavan, and Hazeroth, and Dizahav."
(Deut. 1:1)  | | " In Egypt our forefathers were tested, like gold being smelted from its dross in a furnace...." | | |
Rabbi Eleazar opened his discourse with the
quote: "And I am the Lord, your G-d, from the land of Egypt, and you shall know
no other gods but Me; for there is no savior beside Me." (Hosea 13:4) ...Note that
it is not written that "I am your G-d who took you out of the land of
Egypt", rather the text says that "I am your G-d from the land of Egypt".
Does this imply that from [their dwelling in the] land of Egypt He was their
King, but not before? This can't be, because Jacob told his household upon
leaving his father-in-law, Laban, "Put away the strange gods that you have among
you. Let us arise, and go up to Beth-El; and I will there make an altar to G-d,
who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I
went." (Gen. 35:2-3) The reference to G-d here is clearly before the people of
Israel were in Egypt, and yet our text says "I am your G-d from the land of
Egypt"!
The explanation is that from the earliest
days that Israel was in the world they didn't recognize the true Majesty of the
Holy One Blessed Be He. This happened only after they were in Egypt and were
forced into slave labor, and cried out to Him. Even though they were slaves,
they didn't alter their customs at all, and there in Egypt our forefathers were
tested, like gold being smelted from its dross in a furnace. Furthermore they
were exposed every day to all types of sorcery and similar wickedness designed
to lead people astray. Yet they didn't stray from their path - neither right or
left. | | " When they were pursued to the shores of the Red Sea...they saw the splendor of His Highest glory face to face...." | | |
Even though they didn't really know the
glory of G-d, they nevertheless continued the customs of their forefathers. It
was only afterwards that they saw so many miracles and mighty deeds and the Holy
One, Blessed Be He, took them to be His servants. It was in Egypt that they all
saw so many miracles and wonders with their own eyes and all those famous signs
and mighty deeds. That is the reason it is written "I am the Lord your G-d from
the land of Egypt"; that was the land where He revealed His Glory!
He also revealed Himself to them when they
were pursued to the shores of the Red Sea. There they saw the splendor of His
Highest glory face to face with the splitting of the sea and the drowning of
their foes. All this so that it should not be said that it was some other god
that talked to us. Rather, "I am He Who did all these 10 plagues in the land of
Egypt." [This means,] "Because of that which I did for you, you shall know no
other gods but Me. All this so you won't say that it was some other god that
talked to you, rather you will recognize that it is Me for all time."
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