G-d
spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am Adonai."
I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as El Shaddai, but with My Name AdonaiI did not make Myself known to them. (Ex. 6:2-3)
Parasha Va'era begins with G-d orienting Moses to the
fact that the Divine appellation particular to his need is Adonai. As is well known, G-d's various "Names" represent
the different ways in which G-d is made known to us, and here in this week’s
Torah portion, how G-d revealed G-d’s self to the Patriarchs and to Moses. Moses
received revelation of G-d through the Name, Adonai, which is G-d's highest
manifestation, yet he still doubted. The Patriarchs on the other hand, had
maintained their strong faith even though G-d had been revealed to them only
with the other Name, "El Shaddai."
El Shaddai is derived from the word "Dai"
meaning sufficient or enough, and denotes G-d as the One Who sets limits on
Creation. As for "Adonai", Rashi explains that this name represents
G-d as the One Who carries out Divine promises, for G-d was now prepared to
full the pledge to free Israel and bring the people to the Land through Moses’
mission.
How do we think of G-d? Is there a Name, a quality that
keeps that sense of comfort, inspiration, and gratitude alive within us? When
things go well, we frequently say, "Thank G-d." However, when we face
the treacherous mountains, the depth of the ocean, the grey fog, the shaky
path, we are less eager to say "Thank G-d." And yet, expressing
gratitude in those moments is the very medicine we've got to try. When we can
find something for which to say Thank G-d, it is as though something is
released within us. We are given a little more room to maneuver, our heart is
lightened just a touch, and a bit more clarity enters the horizon.
Many years ago, a Name for G-d appeared to me. The Name
had to do with redemption, a Name that meant seeing another side, reaching the
next rung on the ladder of understanding. The Name that came to me reminded me
of the ability to shift a difficult reality to one where the heavy curtain
could be lifted. The same situational pieces might remain in place, and yet my
ability to cope with it, to negotiate the course had changed. The Psalmist had this idea when it was
written, "I lift my eyes unto the mountains to find my help. My help comes
from G-d, the Maker of Heaven and Earth."
G-d is playing at our theatre. We are all in the film,
however it is simply a question of being ready to find those moments that allow
a connection and consequently a shift to occur. It happened for Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Sarah, Rebekkah, Leah and Rachel. It happened for Joseph and definitely
for Moses. And it can and does happen for us as well.
The ticket to the experience is expressing gratitude.
While the Talmud advises finding 100 things a day to say thank you for, we can
start today with five or ten. Make a list till you've got a solid 100. We may
be quite delightfully surprised to see how G-d then appears to us.
Thanking you!
