The Words of Prophecy are Rebuke

In this week’s parsha, God is telling Moses to speak to the Pharoah. Moses stutters, how can he possibly be God’s spokesperson? Fair enough, God says, your brother Aaron will speak for you.

The exact wording is that Moses will be ‘a god’ to Pharoah, and Aaron will be Moses ‘prophet.’

Rashi explains that prophet in this case means interpreter, but adds that the definition of prophet is someone who speaks words of reproof.

Carl Jung said that dreams are responses from our unconscious to our conscious attitude.

Something in the way we’re oriented to our situation is out of balance in some way, and the dream provides the balancing counter-image.

In a sense, we’re all receiving a low dose of prophecy every time we dream.

I’m reminded also of Quaker meeting, where members sit in silence until inspired to speak.

There’s an invitation there, a form of silent prayer— May that which is beyond me provide me with information, an idea, an insight, that can help me be better.

There’s a lot of pleasure in criticizing others. It’s much less fun to consider what you can to differently.