There is more than one
haphtarah for parshas Shemos. The one from Isaiah is basically a poem which
alternates eloquent blessings with harsh criticisms. It opens that the day will
come when Jacob will take root and Israel will bloom and flower. The prophet
then talks about from the Promised Land saying that the fortified city is in
ruins and that the nation will only be forgiven when their pagan altars are
ground up like chalk. He continues that the people have understood nothing
therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, will have no mercy on them. However when
the day of redemption comes G-d will separate the wheat from the chaff from
among His people and those that return will submit themselves to Hashem at His
sacred mountain in Jerusalem.

After that, it is
explained how G-d’s word is learned by those who want it. It starts with the
things that a person learns from their parents at a very early age. Next the
holy One, blessed be He, gradually, through life’s experiences, teaches His
flock principles and proverbs.
For people who reject
G-d’s teachings it is the opposite. It begins with them rejecting counsel from
above on how to obtain rest and refreshment for themselves and others. Because
of that the Torah will sound stammering and strange and its precepts and verses
will cause gradual descent and destruction.
The haphtarah ends with a reassurance to the
righteous that in the end they will be proud of their children. This is because
G-d is in fact molding them into fine people who will a sanctification of His
name and a tribute to the heritage of Jacob and Israel.
The rhythm of the
haphtarah mimics the parsha’s alternation between beauty and devotion of the
children of Israel opposite their shallow and malevolent behavior. It starts
with recounting the names of the tribes and the greatness of Joseph. It then
talks about their descent into harsh slavery and continues with the courage of
the Israelite mid-wives. The parsha continues how Moshe as a young adult was
forced to flee Egypt when an arrogant Israelite rasha attempted to have him
arrested because he had previously rescued an Israelite at the cost of the life
of the attacking Egyptian.
In Midian
Moshe is drawn to the presence of G-d that appears in the burning bush. Hashem
tells him to liberate the children of Israel and gives him reassurances for all
of his concerns. Even so Moshe says to send somebody else. He
does accept the appointment but incurs great anger from above when he fails to
circumcise his son. The children of Israel do accept Moshe and his mission to
take them out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. However, when Pharaoh reacts
hostilely, they turn against Moshe and disgrace him.
The hidden theme of
the parsha is gradual integration of knowledge into a person’s being as well as
the national mentality. This is the rectification of not being an understanding
nation.
Essentially
understanding comes through contemplation and reflection. A bad person will
often refuse to do this because he subtly recognizes that the conclusion will
be that he can’t continue the way he is. The righteous few will always be
pondering and learning. The masses, though, often are very slow learners and
because of this tragedies occur from time to time. However little by little
they learn a precept here and a verse there. What starts out as inchoate groans
of pain over thousands of years are refined into the Third Temple. This is the
gradual advance of not only the nation of Israel but all men as well.
לע"נ, הסבא ,אהרן בן יוסף ז"ל
נלב"ע כז טבת תשכ"ו
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