Part 14: The Exodus [Tractate Berachos: 9a-b] • Torah.org

[Moses told G-d that the Israelites will ask to know His Name; G-d told him to tell them that His Name is]: “I will be who I will be” (“EHYEH ASHER EHYEH”: Ex.3:14). G-d was telling Moses to tell the Jews: “I was with you in this enslavement, and I will be with you in the enslavements of your future exiles”. Moses protested, “Master of the World, it is enough for one affliction to be mentioned in its own time!” He was therefore told to tell them “EHYEH (“I will be”) sent me to you” (ibid).

Elijah prayed “Answer me, G-d, answer me” (1 Kings 18:37). R. Avho said, why did Elijah call “answer me” twice? He was saying: answer me that fire come down from heaven and consume everything on the altar, and answer me and divert their attention, so they don’t think of saying that it (the fire from the sky) was magic (and not from G-d), as it says “You will turn their hearts back [to You]” (ibid) (7).

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(7) This occurs during the famous “contest” between Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel. Elijah wished to prove to the Jews that Hashem was the only power, and so he set up a test in which there would be two altars, one for the prophets of Baal and the other for him; people would see who’s prayers for fire to burn up the sacrifice are answered (See Kings I 18:19-46).

Mahx Note:

The lesson here is that Elijah was teaching Israel that they should not think that the Exodus was magic, and as a result not have faith in the promise of Mashiach to enter fully into the Land. If the miracle is only perceived by the natural mind, no matter how great it is, no matter what significance it has in terms of the covenant of God, it will only seem like magic to us. It will only seem like a greater magic than the magic of other gods, a greater power. Its revelation of redemption from Adam's transgression will not be recognized. For if Elijah's message were to be recognized by Israel then the fire that consumed the offering on the altar would be a witness that HaShem was the God of Israel, and the God of Israel, who brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage to dwell in the Land of Testimony promised to Abraham, is the only God, and then Adam is redeemed from his transgression. For Israel was to meet Mashiach, in his death and in his resurrection, upon entering into the Land and upon dwelling as the Torah people of God in the Land of Testimony. Therefore we see how it was that John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah, baptizing Jerusalem and Judah in the Jordan, as a sign that now in full repentance Israel was crossing over the Jordan River, in accordance with the promise of the covenant of God made with the fathers, crossing over from the death of unbelief to the life of faith. But then they did not cross over. But today, if they hear his voice, they will cross over completely.