Dear Friends,
Most of the time, it’s nice to be called.
Being called commonly means we are recognized and valued.
So it was with Moses, from when God first spoke to him from the burning bush early in Exodus, to the opening words of Leviticus, “The Eternal One called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting…” (Lev. 1:1)
.
Yet, this is unusual language. Afterall, how difficult was it for God to speak to Moses? Throughout Torah, God had Moses’ ready attention. Whenever there was a need, they had instant communication (God knew where the cell towers were placed!). Thus, why did our text indicate that God “called” to Moses, and not simply the usual, “God spoke to Moses?” Calling connotes something different.
Perhaps. this was the start of a new communication and thus a new relationship. In Exodus, God was establishing the relationship and the expectations. By the end of that Book, the Tent of Meeting had been constructed, and God had an “abode” from which the sacred encounter could be continued. In fact, even in that Tent there was a space akin to a doorway: yes, God actually had a doorway, and thus some Divine privacy. Hence, instead of God being, as we are commonly taught, everywhere at every time, now God had privacy and a portal. Thus, communication now was not so simple, and God resorted to “calling” Moses. Probably, Moses had to respond, somewhat in kind.
It might even appear that “calling” had in some regard deteriorated the special relationship of God and Moses, who previously had known each other “face-to-face.” But, maybe, not. Perhaps, this demonstrates a maturing of the relationship, and of Moses’ leadership. Perhaps, this represented a weaning of the direct dependence upon God which was evident earlier in the Torah. The slight nuance inherent in “calling” reflects that perhaps we all had grown up, a little bit.
So, yes, it’s nice to be called!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Most of the time, it’s nice to be called.
- It’s nice when a friend or family member calls on the phone just to say hi.
- It’s nice when a doctor calls to follow-up, or when the accountant or financial advisor calls – without bad news – to just check in.
- And, for children, it is nice to be called upon by the teacher, when they have done their homework.
- And, it is nice to be called to be invited to participate in something special.
Being called commonly means we are recognized and valued.
So it was with Moses, from when God first spoke to him from the burning bush early in Exodus, to the opening words of Leviticus, “The Eternal One called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting…” (Lev. 1:1)
.
Yet, this is unusual language. Afterall, how difficult was it for God to speak to Moses? Throughout Torah, God had Moses’ ready attention. Whenever there was a need, they had instant communication (God knew where the cell towers were placed!). Thus, why did our text indicate that God “called” to Moses, and not simply the usual, “God spoke to Moses?” Calling connotes something different.
Perhaps. this was the start of a new communication and thus a new relationship. In Exodus, God was establishing the relationship and the expectations. By the end of that Book, the Tent of Meeting had been constructed, and God had an “abode” from which the sacred encounter could be continued. In fact, even in that Tent there was a space akin to a doorway: yes, God actually had a doorway, and thus some Divine privacy. Hence, instead of God being, as we are commonly taught, everywhere at every time, now God had privacy and a portal. Thus, communication now was not so simple, and God resorted to “calling” Moses. Probably, Moses had to respond, somewhat in kind.
It might even appear that “calling” had in some regard deteriorated the special relationship of God and Moses, who previously had known each other “face-to-face.” But, maybe, not. Perhaps, this demonstrates a maturing of the relationship, and of Moses’ leadership. Perhaps, this represented a weaning of the direct dependence upon God which was evident earlier in the Torah. The slight nuance inherent in “calling” reflects that perhaps we all had grown up, a little bit.
So, yes, it’s nice to be called!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
