Parshat Va’era 5786 - "נתתיך אלקים"

This week we read פרשת וארא, the Parsha where HaShem begins to inflict the plagues on Egypt. The פרשה opens with HaShem instructing משה to speak to Pharaoh, to command him to release עם ישראל. However, after seeing that בני ישראל didn’t listen to him earlier, Moshe responds:  “הן בני־ישראל לא־שמעו אלי ואיך ישמעני פרעה ואני ערל שפתים - and behold, Bne’i Yisrael hasn’t listened to me, how would Pharaoh listen to me - me of uncircumsied lips”. After this, the Aliyah ends, and HaShem states to Moshe: “נתתיך אלקים לפרעה ואהרן אחיך יהיה נביאך - you will be G-d to Pharaoh, and אהרן, your brother, will be your Prophet.” This interaction is incredibly puzzling, raising many questions: What does משה’s statement mean, especially stating that he has ערל שפתים? How can Moshe be G-d? And why is this only to Pharaoh?Recorded in Yeshivat Sha'alvim