How do you know G-d?

What kind of relationship do you have with the Almighty? Relationship, you might ask? How do I, Mr. or Mrs. Human Being have a relationship with G-D?  He is Almighty and Infinite!

For starters let me assure you that you do have a relationship.  When something is not going right or when you see something amazing don’t you naturally exclaim “oh, my G-d”? Chasidic thought tell us that this natural reaction is an expression of the inherent relationship we have with Gd.  On a deeper level, inside each of us is a Neshama, a Soul.  And like a child that can never deny his/her origin our soul can’t deny its inherent connection to Hashem.  We can not nurture it. We can run away from it, we can even attempt to deny it.  But, as long as the heart inside of us beats, our Neshama is with us until death do us part.

Assuming, you are aware of this relationship, the question stands, what kind of relationship do you have with G-d?  Do you have a relationship that is totally faith based? Or, do you have a relationship that is nurtured by intellect? And which is a better relationship?

Moses comes to Pharaoh and demands – per G-d’s instructions – that they let the Jews leave Egypt.  Pharaoh responds by increasing the work load and diminishing the supplies for the Jews.  The Jewish people are angry at Moses for what they see as a counterproductive interaction. Who asked you to get involved? Things were better before you came along!  Moses, turns to G-d and says “why did You send me, when all that I have done has been for naught?”  G-d responds in the opening words of this week’s portion, “I appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with my name E-l Sha-d-ay, but My name Hashem, they did not know”.  That is the answer!? How is G-d answering Moses’ question with His response about the different names that He revealed Himself to them with?

Our Forefathers served G-d with their hearts – Abraham with Kindness, Isaac with Discipline and Jacob with Harmony/Compassion.  However, Moses’ greatest quality in regards to his service of G-d (outside of his humility) was intellect.

The faith based believer can fall back on his faith when things aren’t going right. He can say, “look, I am a finite being, and I can’t fathom to understand the workings of the Infinite”.  The intellect based believer though, needs to understand.  Out of humility Moses approaches G-d with the need to understand, why the suffering, why the pain, why the challenge.

G-d says to him I appeared to the Forefathers with revelations that were relative to their emotional efforts, but to you I have revealed something much greater; the name Hashem, which transcends the finite human experience.  The only way to connect with this infinite experience of G-d is through a transcendent human experience – namely, acceptance and faith.

And that’s the way it is.  Relationships sometimes are strengthened through understanding, connection and meaning. And sometimes, through a transcendent experience, each one has its place in its own unique time and experience.

So how do you know G-d?

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

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