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Torah Studies

"I Am Yahveh" - Is It A Commandment?

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As the Exodus story unfolds in fulfillment of Yahveh's covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:13-15) we would expect Israel's deliverance to be unconditional once the four hundred year time limit had passed.  Considering, however, that they were chosen in order to become Yahveh's special Nation - we would also expect at least some sort of spiritual readiness in the midst of this redemption process.

 

To test Israel's readiness, Moses received a two part mission at the burning bush:

1.  To inform Israel that YHVH has come to fulfill His
      promise to take them back to Canaan.
2.  To order Pharaoh to allow Israel to journey into  

      the desert and worship God.

 

His mission to Israel appeared to be much easier than his mission to Pharaoh - he needed only to 'bear tidings' of redemption - something the people wanted to hear.  In contrast, to convince Pharaoh to allow Israel to leave Egypt to worship YHVH would seem to be much harder.  As it turned out, dealing with Israel became no less difficult than his mission to Pharaoh.  Why?

When Moses first informed Israel concerning their
forthcoming redemption, they were quick to believe:

"The people believed that YHVH had come to redeem His people."
  (Ex 4:29-31) 

 

Their initial enthusiasm, however, quickly turned into bitter disappointment, when Pharaoh doubled their workload.  (Ex 5:18-21)  Instead of the deliverance they had prayed for (Ex 2:23-25) their plight only became worse.  Understandably, the people blamed Moses for their worse condition, so Moses turned to YHVH in prayer, asking: 

 

"Why have you made things worse for this people, why have you sent me.  From the time I have gone to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, their situation has only gotten worse, and You have not saved Your nation."  (Ex 5:22)

The people had a legitimate complaint, and Moses
awaited YHVH's answer.  In His answer, YHVH first provided Moses with some preliminary information and only afterwards told him what to tell Israel.  (Ex 6:2-9)

Let us examine YHVH's answer. 

I Am YHVH

"And Elohim spoke to Moses and told him: I Am YHVH." (Ex 6:2) 

 

The phrase "I Am YHVH" appeared in the opening, closing, and center of YHVH's answer:

"Therefore, tell Israel: I Am YHVH, and I will take them out from their suffering in Egypt... and I will save them from their enslavement, and I shall redeem them with an outstretched arm....  And I shall take them for Me as My Nation and I will be their Elohim... then they shall know that I Am YHVH Elohim who took them out of Egypt.  And I will take them to the Land... and I will give it to them as an
inheritance... I Am YHVH."
  (Ex 6:6-8) 
 

Moses already knew who YHVH was, nonetheless, YHVH wanted to emphasize this point by the repeated statement of "I Am YHVH".  But why?  How could this statement answer the people
and stop their complaining?  It certainly didn't help, as we are told: 

 

"But they did not listen to Moses because of their crushed spirits and hard work."  (Ex 6:9)

 

Believe Or Obey   

What could YHVH have meant by 'they did not listen'?  That they did not hear what Moses said? That couldn't be the meaning of this verse, as they obviously heard what he said.  Maybe they did not comprehend what Moses said?  This would also seem unlikely, for nothing in his statement seemed complex.  Could it mean that they did not pay attention to what Moses told them?  This seems to make sense, except that it's not what the Hebrew word really means.  Another interpretation is that they did not believe (accept) what Moses told them. This is the popular understanding of 'did not listen' in these verses.  However, again, Moses should have used a different Hebrew word.

 

They, Israel, did not obey what Moses told them.  Although this is the most common translation of 'did not listen' elsewhere in Torah  - Deut 28:15 and Num 26:14 - it does not fit in this verse, since Moses' remarks contained no commandment for the people to obey... or maybe they did?

If 'did not listen' means that the people did not 'obey' what Moses told them, then we must prove that the statement, "I Am YHVH" was actually a commandment. 

 

Let us turn our attention to the words of Ezekiel.  

 

"And you shall say to them.. on the day that I chose
Israel... when I made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt... and I stretched out My Hand to them saying I Am YHVH your Elohim... on that same day I lifted out My Hand to take them out of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey.  And I said to them; Each man must rid himself of his detestable ways and not defile himself with the fetishes of Egypt - for I Am YHVH your Elohim." 
  Ezk 20:1-12

 

While in exile, a group of elders and leaders from Judah requested Ezekiel to pray for them in hope that YHVH will shorten their Exile and return them to their homeland.  Instead of answering Ezekiel's prayer, YHVH told him to rebuke the people and tell them that they did not deserve redemption, just as their forefathers in Egypt did not deserve it.  
    
At the time of the Exodus YHVH gave Israel a commandment which they did not obey.  Though it is not mentioned in the book of Exodus it is refered to by the prophet Ezekiel. 

 

"But they rebelled against Me and they did not want to listen to Me (obey), for no one rid himself from his detestable ways, nor did anyone give up the fetishes of Egypt, and I resolved to pour out My anger upon them."  Ezk 20:7-8

YHVH commanded Israel to repent prior to the Exodus, to cleanse themselves from the defilement of their Egyptian culture in preparation for their redemption.  Unfortunately, they did not obey and thus deserved to be destroyed in the land of Egypt, and only for the 'sake of His Name' did the redemption process continue.  Ezk 20:9-10  

YHVH's instruction to Moses to tell Israel "I Am YHVH" required that they only accept Him, but that they also reject all other gods and cultures.  They were told that YHVH will redeem them from Egypt, as they requested, on the condition that they become loyal partners in this relationship.   

"Then YHVH told Moses, go speak to Pharaoh... that he should send Israel from his land.  Moses replied saying:  If even Israel didn't listen (obey) to me why should Pharaoh obey me?"  Ex 6:10-12

These verses confirm as well, that Israel did not obey.  What did they not obey?  The first two commandments!

True recognition of "I Am YHVH" requires a willingness to obey whatever He may request, including getting rid of attachment to any other god. 

 

When Israel arrived at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, the first commandment was "I Am YHVH your Elohim who brought you out of Egypt" and the second was "Thou shall not have any other gods." Ex 20:2-3  The first commandment automatically implied the second.

From this we see just how difficult Moses' mission to Israel was, no less difficult than his mission to Pharaoh.  It did not only involve informing the people, but also educating them.  Just as Pharaoh had to be convinced to recognize YHVH, Israel had to be convinced that it was indeed YHVH who came to redeem them. 

"And YHVH spoke to Moses and Aaron, and commanded them to Israel and to Pharaoh the king of Egypt to take Israel out of Egypt."  Ex 6:13


YHVH commanded Israel not to follow the corrupt lifestyle of the Egyptians. 

 

"And YHVH spoke to Moses: speak to the children of Israel and tell them I Am YHVH.  Do not act as the Egyptians do... and do not follow their customs.  Follow My laws instead... for I Am YHVH your Elohim.  Keep My laws, for by them man lives... I Am YHVH."  Lev 18:1-5 

 

This commandment is followed by a long list of forbidden marital relationships, which were common in the Egyptian and Canaanite cultures.  Lev 18:24-25  YHVH's call for repentance demanded that Israel forsake their Egyptian lifestyle, and prepare to accept whatever mitzvot He may command.

Even before Israel left Egypt, they had to offer a special sacrifice to affirm their faithfulness.  Then, after their first 'three-day journey' into the desert, they had to pass the test at Marah, where they were given one more chance to obey. 
(Ex 15:22-26)


"And He said, If you obey the voice of YHVH your Elohim, do what is upright and listen to His
commandments, then the afflictions that I brought upon Egypt, and which you deserved as well, I will not bring upon you, for I Am YHVH, your Healer."
  Ex 16:26

Upon arriving at Mount Sinai, YHVH again demanded as a pre-requisite for receiving the Torah a similar commitment: 

 

"And now, if you agree to obey My instruction and keep My covenant..."  Ex  19:3-6

In order for any type of deliverance to succeed, a constant recognition of I Am YHVH must become not only a statement of faith but even more so, it must become a way of life.

 

 

His Name - YHVH

 

YHVH: The Tetragrammaton