To Be Known: Moses and the Names of G-d

"G-d spoke to MOSES and said, "I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [only] with the name E-L Sha-dai, but to you MOSES I appeared with my name [my real name] Y-H-V-H." This week's portion opens up with what almost seems like a whiny G-d. I get that this might sound "sacrilegious" coming from a Rabbi; however, I truly believe that the ENTIRE point of Torah is undermined if we can't identify and trace every G-dly gesture to each and every human trait known to man. G-d seems to be asking Moses, "Why aren't you into me? I've made myself more vulnerable to you than anyone else, yet you insist on playing hard to get!"

This is so classic since it was G-d who actually played hard to get with Abraham, who WAS super into G-d and actually pursued HIM. In fact, it gets ugly when G-d realizes that Abraham is so starved for affection, that he would literally do anything, even "sacrifice" his only son in exchange for a morsel of attention.

This aligns perfectly when you break down the name G-d uses to appear to him: E-L SHA-DAI: translated as "The G-d who decided it was enough!" G-d seems to be drawn to THAT more than anything. He gets off on adoration, in exchange for giving whatever parts of himself he deems "enough."

In fully embracing our human complexity, the Torah might be asking us to recognize that we all harbor different aspects of ALL these behaviors. Even G-d. I say this not with condemnation, but with compassion. The Torah is challenging us to hold our tendencies and even the most subtle resemblance to unhealthy behaviors to the light of introspective awareness.

In that spirit, I like to see Moses paradigmatically as an evolved version of Abraham. Often, in the case of an evolved consciousness one can become even less healthy than before. When the overeagerness to give and please backfires, one leans to an extremely opposite tendency resulting in various degrees of emotional shutdown and paranoia of being used.

While awareness is critical, it must be tweaked till it becomes a healthy and balanced "a wary ness," though it's clear, however, in this case, that his wariness with G-d is spot on. So on that note: back to G-d. I also see the G-d of Moses as an evolved version of the G-d of Abraham, though there are plenty of residual traces of the young "Genesis G-d" that pop up in the "G-d of Exodus." He fully "gets" how the concealment and carefully moderated and selective bartering and sharing of bits of self truly undermined the most fundamental need and goal of a real relationship. The desire and need to be KNOWN! (hence the universally tragic symbol of the Unknown Soldier.)

However, that being the case, while G-d, in full gangbuster mode, coming on this strong (with the full force of the name Y-H-V-H) might have been thrilling for Abraham, it didn't work for Moses. It might have even been a little flattering, but it was mostly overwhelming and confusing. It's almost as if this friskier version of G-d is undermined by his own eagerness to get it right. Worse yet: in bypassing the need to gradually reestablish trust, a residual "selfishness" resurfaces and damages a desperately needed credibility.

Again, these exchanges are merely starting points for each of us to look at ALL aspects of ourselves. The Torah reminds us this week that if we truly desire to be known by another, we best get on with the business of being fully known to ourselves. Good. Bad. And Ugly. All fair game if we are serious about becoming the person that G-d and the universe, and most importantly our families, desperately need, and pray for us to be.