Hashem Breaks the Laws of Nature For Us

By Rabbi Moshe Krieger, Yeshivas Bircas HaTorah (www.bircas.org)

In Parshas Va’eira (Shemos 6:3), Hashem tells Moshe, “I appeared to the Avos with the name Kel Shakkai, but My name Havaya (which we pronounce as “A-do-noi”) I did not make known to them. I have seen the suffering of the Bnei Yisrael, and I recall My covenant with them. I will take them out of Mitzrayim.”

Clearly, there is a significant difference between these two holy names. What is this difference, and why were the Avos only shown one? Furthermore, there seems to be a link between the revelation of the name Havaya to the Exodus from Egypt. What precisely is this connection?

The Ramban explains that Kel Shakkai expresses Hashem’s direction of the world via the force we call nature. The world seems to work in an orderly fashion according to natural laws. In fact, Hashem is behind the scenes at all times, involved in all aspects of the world. A prime example can be found in Megillas Esther, where a story is told that is replete with hashgachah pratis, yet there are no open miracles. The word Havaya, though, means bringing to life, and the name Havaya expresses that Hashem can create or change anything.

When Hashem directs the world through the name of Shakkai, everything functions within the parameters of nature, according to certain rules. Havaya expresses no limitations. This is the difference in meaning between these two names.

The Chasam Sofer says that everything Hashem did for the Avos took place within the realm of nature. This was enough for them; they were able to see Hashem’s Hand with the utmost clarity. They didn’t need to see miracles, or Hashem’s directing of the world with Havaya. However, once the Bnei Yisrael sank into the impurities of Egypt, they were no longer capable of seeing Hashem clearly through miracles done within the realm of nature. If Hashem had freed them from Egypt in a natural way, they may have attributed their redemption to nature. To bring the Bnei Yisrael to the awareness that He created the world and continues to oversee all of creation, Hashem had to break the laws of nature before their eyes. This was why the Exodus was achieved with the Shem Havaya.

The Ramban states (Shemos 13:16) that the Exodus was designed to disprove any claims of heretics, and build the Jewish nation’s emunah. This was so important that it was worth enslaving Hashem’s beloved nation to an immoral people to accomplish it.

Miracles do not often happen on such a grand scale. Every generation must study and review the Exodus in order to grow in emunah. This is why so many mitzvos make mention of the Exodus—the idea is to keep Hashem’s open miracles fresh in our minds, bringing us to perpetual growth in emunah.

HaRav Yitzchak Isaac Chaver (in his commentary on the Haggadah) brings out another lesson to learn from the miracles of the Exodus. To prepare His people to receive Torah and mitzvos, Hashem broke the rules! Hashem put the Jews into the worst circumstances imaginable to show that He was willing to make ten plagues, each of which changed nature, in order to make them His people. This is a lesson every generation must internalize: Hashem is ready to make open miracles for a Jew’s spiritual benefit.

The Rambam also expresses this idea (Hilchos Teshuvah 9:1), stating that though the main reward for mitzvos is in the World to Come, Hashem is nevertheless willing to grant special gifts to us to help us continue in His service. These gifts can take the form of uninterrupted years of health, ample livelihood, or a tranquil environment. Many can attest that upon their acceptance of the yoke of Torah and mitzvos, circumstances in their lives miraculously changed, enabling them to accomplish what they took on.

We also see that no matter how difficult or trying our circumstances may be, there is no reason for despair. Hashem has revealed to us that when we strengthen our Torah learning and performance of mitzvos, He is willing to help, even changing the whole order of creation at times. If so, we are surely required to devote all our energy and resources to His service!

My father worked in the United States as a cheder rebbe, but eventually he decided to come to Eretz Yisrael to come closer to Hashem. At the time, he had seven children, the oldest being a teenager. He tried to work as a rebbe in Eretz Yisrael but stopped after a year because the language barrier was too hard for him. From then on, he devoted all of his time to Torah and service of Hashem.

He would always say that here in Eretz Yisrael, the hashgachah pratis is much stronger, and there were constantly opportunities opening up for him. To an observer, it was often difficult to see the “opportunities” he was referring to. Even we, his children, could not understand how he supported his family. Still, he managed to get by and even marry off all his children, all the while growing in Torah and avodah, as had been his goal from the start. This was an open miracle.

May we be zocheh to internalize the lessons of the Exodus!