Devar/5770/Va'era
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< Devar | 5770
עברית
וְלָקַחְתִּי אֶתְכֶם לִי לְעָם, וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם לֵאלֹהִים; וִידַעְתֶּם, כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, הַמּוֹצִיא אֶתְכֶם, מִתַּחַת סִבְלוֹת מִצְרָיִם. (שמות ו:ו,ז)
English
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments;
and I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. (Ex 6:6,7)
These are the famous four expressions of redemption: "I will bring you out", "I will deliver you", "I will redeem you" and "I will take you". According to Rabbi Yochanan in the Jerusalem Talmud (Pesachim 68b), they parallel the four cups of wine drunk at the Passover Seder: From where (do we know) there are four cups? Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Baniyah: they correspond to the four expressions of redemption: "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out, etc. -- and I will take you to Me for a people, etc. "I will bring you out", "I will deliver you", "I will redeem you" and "I will take you".
It all begins with a short phrase: I am the LORD. If you do not have the minimal recognition that I am God, there is no point in redeeming you. I will bring you out. As long as you remain influenced by the degrading and repugnant surroundings in Egypt, you will be unable to perceive the truth of my unique unity. I will deliver you. So that you cast off Pharaoh's yoke of bondage, otherwise you will be incapable of becoming My servants. I will redeem you. With open and well publicised miracles -- so that it will be impossible for anyone to deny the events of the exodus from Egypt. And also in order that you internalize the concept that My power fills the universe. I will take you. You were purchased completely by Me, and you are my servants -- therefore you shall worship Me as I shall inform you.
Ye shall know. This is the main point. That you know -- without any possible doubt -- that I am God. I am He Who takes you out of Egypt at any time, should you only decide to leave.
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