I Will Be What I Will Be

As Moshe was ready to be sent out to speak to the Jews to tell them that he was the emissary of Hashem to take them out of Mitzrayim he asked Hashem by what name He should be introduced to the people. Hashem answered אהיה אשר אהיה, I will be what I will be.

The word היה indicates the past, that which was. Oftentimes in life we feel that we are weighed down by our past, things that we have done, choices that we have made have created realities as to who we are that are unchangeable. We have no future because of our past.

How do we change the past to create a future? By adding the letter א we change היה, what was, to אהיה I will be. The letter א symbolizes the one Hashem. By reconnecting to God we can undo our past and create the future that we wish to create.

Pushing Away Small-mindedness

Moshe came to the Jewish nation which was wallowing and suffering in servitude and wanted to encourage the people to adopt a joyful attitude by telling them that the end of exile was nigh and their salvation was arriving. They refused to listen to him. The result of the servitude was that they remained engrossed in small-mindedness and suffering and refused to listen to Moshe.

Moshe knew that the only way to destroy the Klipah (evil influence) of Paroh was through joy, and he stood there and begged the Jews, "Be happy!" When they wouldn't listen to him, he went back to Hashem and complained, "The Sons of Israel would not listen to me, how can I expect Paroh to listen to me." How can I break the Klipah of Paroh if I can't enroll the Jews to embrace joy? That's the only way to break Paroh's hold over them.

This can be compared to a bride who is refusing to get married. As the groom stands there waiting, she keeps on insisting that she is unfit for such a wonderful husband. Everyone else is telling her to stop over-thinking things and appreciate the fact that this wonderful man wants nothing more than to take her for a wife.

The task of Tzaddikim is to explain to people in a way that they can understand that Hashem is sitting and waiting for them. Why should they remain wrapped in pain? Nothing will bring Him greater pleasure than our agreeing to join Him.

The power of Mitzrayim was to block the people's awareness of Hashem's desire for them. Without this awareness serving God becomes very difficult, and doesn't come along with peace and calm.

Moshe cried out to Hashem, "I can't take them out of Exile as long as they have an Exile mindset. You can't push away small-mindedness with more small-mindedness. They need something shining upon them from above to broaden their mindset, to bring some גאולה (redemption) into the גלות (exile).