Parshat Vayera; Exodus 6:2 –9:35 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

How often do we listen to something but we never really hear it? We may be distracted by others. We may be doing something else when we ought to be listening. Certainly, those of us who are used to multi-tasking reading, talking on the phone and answering email and even driving at the same time know the truth: that we don’t really hear very well even though there is nothing wrong with our ears!

Sometimes when listening to music, if we concentrate we might hear things we never heard before. We might hear the violins of a concerto or pick out the countermelody played by the horn section in a way we never did before. We might hear the background vocals in a popular song that seems to get covered up by the pulsing guitar riffs.

So yes, there are times we listen to sounds or words or music but we don’t really hear them. And this is true of people too. We ask someone upon seeing them, “How are you?” and we expect the pat answer, “Fine. And you?” So we want to hear but we don’t want to listen!

In this week’s portion God tells Moses, “I have now heard the moaning of the Israelites because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My Covenant.” (Ex. 6:5) This is a follow up to God’s acknowledgement in last week’s parasha at the Burning Bush to Moses, “ I have marked well the plight of My people in Egypt and have heeded their outcry because of their taskmasters; yes, I am mindful of their sufferings.” (Ex. 3:7)

God has finally heard. God heard them in a new way. Finally, really comprehending their trouble. God has listened to the cries of their terror and suffering and it has reminded God of the covenant that God made with the Israelite’s ancestors.

And so our story of liberation begins. Yes, Moses goes to Pharaoh and demands the Israelite’s freedom. But the story begins with hearing. God’s hearing the children of Israel’s cries and responding.

This will be contrasted with the Pharaoh who will hear Moses but not listen to him nor listen to God. Even when confronted with plagues that will reign down upon the whole of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen.

This should remind us of our own tasks to really listen to one another; to go beyond the distractions and really focus on the messages before us. In this way we can honor one another and ultimately listen for the voice of the Divine guiding our own lives today!

Posted by Lee at January 23, 2006 09:48 AM