TorahParsha

Torah Through Mercy

i
God gives the Torah to Moses. But the Children of Israel commit the sin of the Golden Calf. And Moses, in anger, smashes the stone Tablets of the Covenant—the stones of Torah—that God had written.

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God forgives the Children of Israel. He tells Moses to re-fashion a second set of stone Tablets. He calls Moses back up the mountain.

He gives Moses the Torah again.

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Moses returns from the Mountain. His face shines.

But Moses does not know that his face shines. The people flee from him. Even Moses' brother flees.

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Moses calls them back. They return to him. He teaches them Torah.

ii
One imagines that Moses is lonely when the people flee from him. And so his calling them back is more personal than a calling-back-to-holiness, alone. He is calling to them because he needs them.

But it is impossible for them to stand before this shining man. And so, until he calls them back, they flee.

*
So there is the guilt of sin. And there is Moses' need of others.

There is an impasse

Until Moses calls the people back, overcoming their guilt.

iii
Moses reaches out to the people from his loneliness: he ignores their sin.

Moses brings them back: the need for others overcomes sin itself.

That is the essence of Mercy.

*
It is in this way that the Torah is finally given.

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In God’s History Lies Forgiveness

i
Joseph’s brothers cast him down into a pit. From there he is stolen and sold into slavery in Egypt. In Egypt he is sentenced for a crime he does not commit. He lives in prison.

Later, in a twist of fate, Joseph becomes ruler over all of Egypt.

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As ruler over Egypt, Joseph sustains his brothers, and his father, and all the people of that land through seven lean years of brutal famine.

ii
Later, Joseph forgives his brothers; though they have caused him suffering.

Joseph says to them: You …thought evil against me; but God meant it for good: to bring it to pass… this day that many people should be saved alive.

iii
Joseph looks at the world and does not see the world.

Joseph looks at the world and sees God’s will, revealing itself through the world.

Joseph looks at his brothers but does not see his brothers. He sees emissaries of God’s will.

You …thought evil against me, Joseph says to his brothers: but God meant it for good.

*
And so Joseph’s own suffering cannot cripple him.

And so though Joseph has suffered, he can forgive.

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