Why do we first read of Moses’ being called and only afterwards are we told that “G-d spoke to him”?

Rabbi Yisrael Kaniel The writer is Associate Director for Religious Affairs at Be"Ahavat Yisrael. More from the author ► The writer is Associate Director for Religious Affairs at Be"Ahavat Yisrael.

The first verse in the Torah section of VaYikra that begins the third book of the Torah by the same name tells us (Vayikra 1:1): “And He called to Moses and G-d spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting.”

On this verse, Rashi comments, in accordance with our Sages (see Torat Kohanim 2:7-9; Tanchuma 1; Babylonian Talmud , Yoma 4b), that the sound of G-d’s speech was not in a whisper or low, but rather resounding and loud, yet G-d’s words were only heard by Moses.

In a similar fashion, R. Moshe Sternbuch notes (Daniel Yaakov Travis, A Voice in the Darkness , p. 174), when G-d presented the Torah to the children of Israel, G-d’s words were earth-shaking in resonance, yet only the nation of Israel heard what He had to say, whereas the other nations could not hear a word.

In explanation of this strange phenomenon, R. Sternbuch notes a peculiar point in the aforementioned verse (ad locum, pp. 171-172). Why does the verse not begin, “And G-d spoke to Moses”? Why do we first read of Moses’ being called and only afterwards are we told that “G-d spoke to him”?

R. Sternbuch suggests that the Torah is instructing us that before G-d could communicate a message to Moses, that message was first preceded by an experience of closeness between him and G-d, an experience free of dialogue that would just create a bond with G-d.

Only after first elevating oneself to a level of clinging to his Creator, can one to tune in to G-d’s Voice. Before G-d spoke to Moses, Moses received a preparatory calling that first elevated him to be able to tune in to G-d’s message. Similarly, the nation of Israel first underwent three days of preparation before they could tune in to the revelation at Mount Sinai.

Like listening in to a radio broadcast, we cannot hear the broadcasted message properly if we are not on the correct wavelength. If we are not tuned in properly, then we will simply not hear the message.

A neighbor, however, may fully and successfully hear the broadcasted message. To know how to tune in properly, one must have the knowledge of how to get to the right channel and must have the patience to acquire that knowledge and follow through with it until he’s fully tuned in.

To fully tune in to G-d’s messages to us, we have been provided with the Torah, G-d’s instruction manual to life. With this manual that gives us the knowledge, along with the requisite patience, we can tune in to G-d’s channel, and, if we listen carefully, we can be elevated to great heights. Let us tune in and soar heavenward.