In the Book of Exodus, we find Moses at the burning bush, tasked with the monumental mission of freeing the Israelites from slavery. He's understandably apprehensive. It’s a daunting task! In Shemot Rabbah (Exodus Rabbah), a classic compilation of rabbinic interpretations of Exodus, we find a fascinating insight into Moses’s mindset in this moment.
The text quotes Exodus 3:13: "Moses said to God: Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and say to them: The God of your fathers has sent me to you; and they say to me: What is His name? What shall I say to them?”
Moses is essentially saying, "When I go to the Israelites and tell them that the God of their ancestors sent me, what happens when they ask, 'Okay, but which God? What's His name?'" It's a pretty crucial question, right?
Rabbi Shimon of Lod, quoting Rabbi Simon in the name of Reish Lakish, offers a profound interpretation. He suggests that Moses is thinking beyond just this initial encounter. He's envisioning the future, the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, where God Himself will proclaim, "Anochi Adonai Elohecha – I am the Lord your God" (Exodus 20:2).
Moses understands that he will be an intermediary, a bridge between God and the people. But how can he effectively represent a God whose very essence is beyond human comprehension? How can he convey the power and the glory of the Divine?
The text tells us that at that moment, Moses was clarifying his undertaking, because he feared if they asked him "What is His name?" what would he say to them? He worries, understandably, about how to convey God's essence to people who are suffering and questioning everything.
It was at that moment, Shemot Rabbah emphasizes, that Moses requested that the Holy One, Blessed be He, make known to him His great name. He wasn't just looking for a label. He was seeking a deeper understanding, a key to unlock the divine mystery. He needed something that would resonate with the Israelites, something that would inspire faith and hope. Something beyond just "the God of your fathers."
It makes you think, doesn’t it? What is in a name? Especially when that name belongs to the ineffable. And what does it mean for us, even today, to grapple with understanding and relating to something far beyond our own limited perspectives? Perhaps the answer, like the burning bush itself, lies in the mystery, the wonder, and the courage to keep asking, "What is Your name?"