These verses (20:15-17) state after speaking about the assemblage of the receiving of the Torah, they saw with their eyes the voice of Hashem, and they trembled with fear. “And they said to Moshe, ‘Speak to us and we will listen. And Hashem should not speak to us, lest we die.’” The verse continues “And Moshe said to the nation, ‘Do not fear. For Hashem has come in order to elevate you. And so that the awe of Him shall be upon your faces so you shall not sin.’”.
Rashi explains the meaning of the word “zF́Q©p, to elevate you”.: “To make you great in the world. A name shall go out about you in the nations that He, in His glory, revealed Himself to you. Nasos means raising and greatness.” Moshe told the nation not to fear the lightning and thunder because they were sent to elevate them to greatness. The Ramban, however, explains that the word “zF́Q©p” means a test as in the word oŸeïq¦p. He explains that Hashem was testing the nation to see whether they would accept to fulfill the mitzvos. He revealed Himself to them, something He did not do for any other nation, in order to frighten them and thereby test them and ascertain if they would reciprocate the goodness He had done for them and accept to be His chosen nation.
The question is asked according to the Ramban, if the lightning and thunder was meant to test them by scaring them and displaying His power in the Heavens and earth, Why did Moshe tell the nation not to be afraid? Rav Yeruchem in his Sefer Daa’s Chochmah U’Mussar (Chelek Bais, Ma’amar 25) asks another question on the Ramban: After the entire spectacle at Har Sinai, when the Heavens opened for them and they clearly saw that there is no power at all other than Hashem, and, as Chazal tell us, we learn from the verse “you see”, that they saw it themselves, not through a messenger or an agent, but they clearly saw with their own eyes that Hashem spoke to them from Heaven – after all of this, did they still need to be tested to see whether they would desire to accept Hashem and his mitzvos?
In Sefer Kedushas Levi from Harav Levi Yitzchok of Barditchev discerns from here a great lesson in serving Hashem. He writes: “When Hashem Yisborach said the commandments of “I am Hashem” and “You shall not have any other gods before Me” they became engraved and etched into the hearts of every Jewish person, until even the lowest amongst them was willing to sacrifice his life to sanctify His exalted Name. This is the meaning of ‘zF́Q©p – to withstand the test.”
There is a insight to the following Posuk in Tehillim 60:6: (Give those who fear You a banner to raise themselves. The word q†¥p relates to oŸeïq¦p.) Dovid Hamelech reveals that Hashem tested him in order to elevate him, and only through tests can a person rise in levels to serve Hashem. This means q†¥p Lí¤` ¥xi ¦l d ̈z³©z» ̈p Hashem gives a test to those who fear Him, q®¥qŸep §z ¦d §l to have them rise in levels. Klal Yisrael had this etched now in their hearts, that only by passing a test that Hashem presented you, can you fear Hashem and become elevated.
Since we are the Chosen people of Hashem, we can relate what the Ramban writes: “When Hashem is pleased with a group or an individual and wishes to do a wonder for them that is out of the ordinary way of the world and nature, it becomes clear to all that all other knowledge is meaningless. A great miracle shows that the world has a G-d who renews it and knows all and watches all and is all-capable. And when the miracle is foretold by a prophet, the truth of prophecy becomes clear.” All miracles are meant to bring us to recognize Hashem’s greatness.
When we admire the greatness of Hashem, Hashem reciprocates as the Posuk Devarim 26:17 says: The Gemarra says in Berachos “You have affirmed, this day, that the Lord is your G-d, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His laws and commandments, and listen to His voice.” And the subsequent verse states: “And the Lord has affirmed, this day, that you are His treasure, as He spoke to you, to keep His commandments”. From these two verses it is derived that the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Klal Yisrael: You have made Me a single entity in the world, as you singled Me out as separate and unique. And because of this, I will make you a single entity in the world, and you will be a treasured nation, chosen by Hashem. All this is abled by us withstanding the constant tests that Hashem gives us, because He loves us and wants us to be the unique nation that shines uin the entire world.
(Yehuda Z. Klitnick)
