28 January 2023 / 6 Sh’vat 5783
Parasha Bo is the 15th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.
Exodus 10:1-13:16
In this Parsha (Torah Portion), Moses and Aaron confront the Pharaoh, requesting permission to take their people out into the wilderness to follow their Divine destiny.
When the Pharaoh finally relents, he tells them, “Go, worship the Lord your God.” Then he asks the million dollar question, “Who and who is going with you?”
Moses replies, “We will go with our youth and with our elders, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our cattle, for it is a festival of the Lord to us.”
After a bit more wrangling, the Pharaoh tells Moses, “Go! Worship the Lord, but your flocks and your cattle shall be left.” Moses will not compromise. He tells the Pharaoh he will not leave their animals behind.
Moses takes a mixed group of people. Not just the priests. Not just the powerful. Not just the articulate. Not just the literate. Not just the males. Not just the wealthy. Not just the popular. Not just the ‘influencers’ with social currency.
He sets out on the trek into the wilderness with people from all walks of life and all ages and stages. Poor and wealthy, young and elderly, read and unread, meek and bold, powerless and prestigious.
When we understand our destiny, everyone on the journey with us is equally necessary and valued. When we understand our purpose, our animals and humans go with us. When we fulfill our role with authenticity, we don’t leave a human or animal behind that is meant to walk beside us. When we understand holiness, we don’t value the privileged above the unprivileged.
When we are aware, it is the unheard voices we want to hear and the unseen we want to bring into our line of vision. The invisible people made visible have gems of untapped potential to offer.
The language God uses is a very interesting detail in this Parsha that many have pondered. God tells Moses to Bo el Paroh בא אל פרעה, “come to Pharaoh.” God does not say lekh (“go”) as God so famously commanded Abraham.
After God tells Moses “come to Pharaoh,” Moses enters into the Pharaoh’s palace “in the midst of all the splendor.”
Moses grew up with a different Pharaoh, when he was the adopted son of the Pharaoh’s daughter, treated as a royal member of the family. He lived “in the midst of all the splendor” until he had to seek asylum in Midian as a refugee, where he embarked on his 40 year process as a humble shepherd.
When he is told to “come to Pharaoh” it must have been a shock to revisit that life of luxury that he once lived.
God uses the same verb when instructing Noah: Bo el haTeva, “Come to the Ark.” (Genesis 7:1). He did not tell Noah “go to the ark,” he bids him to “come to the ark,” as one would extend an invitation.
The Zohar (preeminent book of Kabbalah) questions, “Why is it written “Come to Pharaoh?” Why not “Go to Pharaoh?”
God’s call for Moses to “come to Pharaoh” implies a partnership with God in resolving the situation together.
Bo (come) demonstrates moving towards a person or a place with a specified purpose, while lech (go) is a departure.
At times we have to move away from a situation, like Abraham did, to manifest our destiny. Other times we have to ‘come to’ a situation as Moses did.
In his ‘come to Pharaoh’ moment, Moses “arrived” (achieved/succeeded). The time had come for his moment to unfold.
Moses was once a privileged Egyptian prince with inherent authority, but God only chose him to lead a nation when he was a humble refugee in Midian with a blemished record, tending to his flocks. Sometimes we have to come into a situation to remember who we were, who we are and who we are destined to be.
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54 Portions (Soul Talk) 
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Just want to repeat the comments of others that your posts are always a joy to read. My take on the discussion of come versus go is that the former seems to indicate that God will accompany you and sustain you in your endeavours whereas the latter may not involve so close a relationship.
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Thank you!! Your comment and feedback is very much appreciated. I really like your take on the use of the two words.
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I always like time to digest your posts when I arrive here dear Avigail… So much more indepth your posts go, to what I was ever taught in bible study classes as a young teen.. 🙂
And then I moved away to do my own thing, as I was searching and seeking answers i didn’t always find in the pages of the New Testament Though I did find great comfort and a knowing that while God perhaps was not quite the bearded man sat on a cloud 🙂 I knew that there was a higher power which created ALL from LOVE, and we had free will in which to love or not..
So When I read your stories of your interpretations, I see deeper understandings I never did before.. Because of the journey I have since travelled within my own spiritual evolvement..
These words jumped out at me to take a deeper look
“At times we have to move away from a situation, like Abraham did, to manifest our destiny. Other times we have to ‘come to’ a situation as Moses did. ”
This is so profound.. I often find myself having to step away, in order to regain my own inner balance.. While at the same time I am urged to step up and stand up, to bring a situation to the attention of others… For to stay silent in some instances is to comply with the situation I disagree with..
It all comes down to following your heart.. And your heart is your inner compass, which guides us in all things.. And if we really delve deeper, we realise that our Hearts are indeed our connection to GOD, the source of Creation .
Following my intuition when connected to the heart, I feel I am following the will of God…
I don’t know what you think Avigail, but that is my feeling…. And Moses, followed the Will of God, Knowing that if he followed his heart, he was making the right choices for his people… And he put no one above another for he included ALL… No labels, no privileges, no segregation .. No one greater and no one lesser..
We have a long ways to go …. ❤ but we are getting there.. ❤ 🙏💛✨
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Hi Sue! I agree with your comment wholeheartedly. God is our heart, our soul, our intuition. That’s way it’s so crucial for us to stay connected to our visceral knowledge and instincts, even when others try to dismiss them. Our rooted/root-woman wisdom is essential to our well-being.
I’m so grateful to know that my posts resonate with you and others that embark on this deep dive with me.
“No labels, no privileges, no segregation .. No one greater and no one lesser..” That’s the way we roll, my friend! Many thanks for your visits and the interconnection. 🙏😍🥰
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I concur with Shaina, your vocabulary is marvelous! I often get frustrated with brilliant authors who tone down the vocabulary they use to appeal to those whose vocabulary is limited. I agree with Shaina’s comment about this being a learning experience too and where there is a lack of comprehension, taking the time and energy to grow. We have a rich and colorful language, and I love it when it’s used to the fullest extent to provide the reader the best experience possible in their mindseye when absorbing the word pictures which the author has expressed.
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Avigail, I love this post! I had highlighted two of your paragraphs to copy here about our destiny and purpose but I’m going to keep it simple by saying I GET what it means when God says COME. We are partners with God for we are a spark of Divine Greatness walking on earth. God in Spirit relies on us to work along with Divinity in Spirit in order to accomplish Great Things. I love the thought of “come” as an invitation versus “go” which is a command. In all my years of walking the Higher Path, God has not once commanded me unless it was an emergency. I love the idea that once we know we are all equal we commit ourselves to bringing everyone together regardless of social standing or boundaries all to glorify God. Of course Moses would not leave his animals behind!! They are divinely connected to God as well!
Thank for sharing this post. I so enjoyed it. You retell biblical stories in such a way you leave the reader wanting to know more. I applaud you!! xoxoxo
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…”come as an invitation versus “go” as a command.” Right on! It reminds of a post I wrote in the past about the Ten Commandments. We are resonating on the same wave length. Our animals are connected to the Divine and have much to teach us about the essence of Divinity.
Your last paragraph brings me the greatest joy! Thank you in abundance! That is my objective and goal. 😍
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❤️❤️❤️
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This was great! There are those that argue that these events never took place. But, that misses the point entirely! There are great lessons for all of us contained in these stories. I think it is a natural human tendency to look down on those in what we see as a lesser station in life. Had Moses continued in his life as a prince, perhaps he wouldn’t have learned humility and the value of every person. I had a similar experience. I was raised in an upper middle class neighborhood of privilege. I went to one of the top schools, we owned boats, and vacationed in cabins at the beach and in the mountains. We went to operas, plays, and concerts. When I decided to join the military, I was going to join as an enlisted man. Many of my family had been high ranking officers. My dad tried his best to convince me to go to college first and become an officer. Joining was a very humbling experience. Many made fun of me when I shared stories of my childhood, calling me “rich boy”. Most had come from families who struggled. I was very naive. But, I learned the value of everyone. That served me well later in leadership roles. When I left the military and got into Federally Assisted Housing management and had maintenance workers, janitors, gardeners, etc. working for me, I used my lessons to build a rapport with them and make each one feel a valued part of the team. That was an excellent observation on your part to understand the lesson in humility and valuing everyone even down to our animals! You have a very keen insight!
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Many thanks, Phil! I venture into the rushing waters of the Torah panning for gold. Whether the events are historical or not, every narrative was written for future generations to plumb the innermost depths for life lessons that are relevant and relatable for all time and traverse the concept of time.
“Had Moses continued in his life as a prince, perhaps he wouldn’t have learned humility and the value of every person.” Amein!
Thanks again for sharing your lived experiences that correlated to the post. Yes, he had to learn humility and the value of every member of the team…human and animal.
Much gratitude for your readership, inspirational thoughts and support! It motivates me to continue.
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I went through a transient process where I was immersed in whether every biblical narrative was historically accurate, but my work in the world of biblical exegesis isn’t dependent on that and it wasn’t a process I was meant to be stuck in. Every biblical author wrote painstakingly – with a profundity of thought, thoroughness and contemplation. Within the pages of their epic journey and their peak experiences of mind, body and/or spirit, are messages meant for me to unravel, uncover and reveal. Their Ruach and my Ruach meet and communicate with each other from across eons and dimensions of consciousness.
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Rebi Abi, You vocabulary is brilliant. I find myself using a dictionary and for this I am very grateful. It is like being a young student again. You are never too old to learn and grow. I am no longer marginalized as a Senior Citizen because of your generosity of spirit.
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Wow. Thank you!! 😍
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I concur with Shaina, your vocabulary is marvelous! I often get frustrated with brilliant authors who tone down the vocabulary they use to appeal to those whose vocabulary is limited. I agree with Shaina’s comment about this being a learning experience too and where there is a lack of comprehension, taking the time and energy to grow. We have a rich and colorful language, and I love it when it’s used to the fullest extent to provide the reader the best experience possible in their mindseye when absorbing the word pictures which the author has expressed.
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Thank you, Phil! My heart is full and my spirit is rejoicing. I do my best to create a rapport with the reader and I’m grateful to know that my efforts are meaningful. May we continue our journey together. 🤩
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Great read. I like your drash. It is interesting to learn that Moses was moving toward something and Abraham walked away from something. I never thought of this dichotomy before. Moses was afraid to approach Pharaoh but God committed to him that they would do this together.It is good that Moses was able to fight for the flocks and cattle to also, go. It was imperative for Moses to stand up to Pharaoh and not be bullied. This is a lesson of inspiration and hope. Thanks for another wonderful lesson in TAnach, Dear Abi.
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Yes…Moses moved towards something and Abraham moved away from something twice — once when God told him to and once when he moved away from famine in Canaan to find food in Egypt.
Moses wasn’t going anywhere without his animals and his tribe of “mixed multitudes” from all walks of life. Thank you for your readership and Torah study partnership. You said it! Moses had to stand up to bullying and fight for inclusivity, which is not always a popular choice or the one that wins popularity contests. Bullying includes deliberately excluding and marginalizing.
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Abi, thanks for your brilliant and uplifting D’rash. You are a gentlewoman and a scholar. You are my Rebi and I am inspired and motivated by you. You made this Parsha relatable. You helped me feel as if I too, am a part of an amazing journey. I am also, coming into my own, just as Moses did. The question about who is coming with you makes me feel “included.” Moses came to Pharaoh , the Bully,
and was courageous. Moses did not give in to Pharoah’s intimidation. He approached Pharaoh with alacrity and made his demands known. Moses insisted on taking ,”everyone” with him. He did not differentiate between Machars, Priests, affluent and brilliant people. He was inclusive in his surrounding community. I relate to Moses including someone such as myself. I like the fact that Moses partnered with God and got past his fear of speaking and confrontation. Moses refused to “other”
the mixed multitudes. The concept of “Come” to Pharaoh moment is encouraging.
Moses showed wisdom by partnering with God. He then was strong by insisting that he keeps his multitudes and his sheep and his cattle. Moses won against the narcissists Pharaoh. . It was coming of age for Moses. He possessed God’s intangible gift of , Humility. Moses came to God and he came to Pharaoh. He didn’t merely survive but he thrived. He generously took us along on his wonderful journey, just as you did, Rabi Abi.
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“He possessed God’s intangible gift of , Humility. Moses came to God and he came to Pharaoh.” Great thoughts! Thanks again for your input. 🖖
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Your welcome. My pleasure.
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