Vaera

Exodus 6:2 - 9:35

By Rabbi Avraham Fischer, provided by the Orthodox Union, the central coordinating agency for North American Orthodox congregations for MyJewishLearning.com

Brothers Bringing Redemption

Moses and Aaron play complementary roles in communicating God's message of redemption to both the Children of Israel and to Pharaoh.

Things have gone from bad to worse.  As intense as the slavery had been, now the Children of Israel must produce their quota of bricks without being provided with the straw they need.  Although at first they believed that the redemption was imminent, now they have lost hope.  Moses repeats God’s promises to save them, “but they did not hearken to Moses out of impatience and out of hard bondage” (Exodus 6:9).

The Narrative is Interrupted

And, when God insists that Moses return to speak to Pharaoh, Moses’s reaction is understandably full of frustration:

Behold, the children of Israel [who have a vested interest in listening] have not hearkened to me; how then shall Pharaoh [who has a vested interest in not listening] listen to me, I who am of uncircumcised lips?! (Exodus 6:12).

Nevertheless, God renews the command to appear before Pharaoh (Exodus 6:13).

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