Our ancestors felt that too, especially when seeking connection with the Divine. Today, let's dive into a powerful moment between Moses and God on Mount Sinai, a story that wrestles with the very nature of divine revelation.
The scene is set in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 46), a fascinating text that expands on biblical narratives. Moses, ever the intercessor, declares that on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, he will behold God's glory and atone for the sins of Israel. A bold statement, wouldn't you say?
But Moses doesn’t stop there. He directly asks God, "Show me, I pray thee, thy glory!" (Exodus 33:18). It's a raw, human plea. A desire to understand, to see the source of all creation.
God's response, however, is sobering. "Moses! Thou art not able to see My glory lest thou die, as it is said, 'For men shall not see me and live'" (Exodus 33:20). The implication is clear: direct, unfiltered exposure to the divine is simply too much for mortal beings to handle. It would be…annihilating.
But here’s where the story takes a beautiful turn. God, bound by an oath to Moses, offers a compromise. A glimpse, a mediated experience. "Stand at the entrance of the cave," God instructs, "and I will make all the angels who move before Me pass before thy face.”
Imagine the scene. Moses, standing firm, filled with anticipation and perhaps a healthy dose of fear, at the mouth of a cave on the holy mountain. God continues, "Stand in thy might, and do not fear, as it is said, 'And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee'" (Exodus 33:19).
And then comes the crucial part: "When thou dost hear the Name which I have spoken to thee, there am I before thee, as it is said, 'And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee' (ibid.)."
What does it mean to "hear the Name?" We aren't told explicitly in this passage which name is meant. Perhaps it's the ineffable, unspeakable Name of God, a sound so powerful that it resonates through the very fabric of existence. Or maybe it's a different, specific divine name, a key to unlocking a deeper understanding. The Zohar, the central text of Kabbalah, explores the power and significance of God's names extensively, each name representing a different aspect of the divine.
The story leaves us pondering. What did Moses see? What did he hear? Did he truly behold God’s glory, or just a reflection? Maybe the point isn't about a literal visual experience. Maybe it’s about the profound realization that God's presence is revealed through acts of goodness, through the flow of creation, and through the very words and names we use to connect with the divine. As Ginzberg retells it in Legends of the Jews, these moments are pivotal in solidifying Moses's role as the ultimate prophet.
This episode from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer offers a timeless lesson. We may not be able to grasp the entirety of the divine, but we can find glimpses of it in the world around us, in acts of kindness, in moments of inspiration, and in the sacred words that have been passed down through generations. Perhaps, like Moses, we too can stand at the entrance of the cave and, with open hearts, listen for the Name.