G-d’s Bio If you were asked to manage G-d’s personal brand and to write His bio, what would you write? Presumably, you would talk about the infinite, undefined, all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe. Yet, when G-d introduces himself to the Jewish people at Sinai as he presents the Ten Commandments, G-d says something else entirely: I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. (Exodus 20:2) Indeed, the commentaries ask why G-d introduces himself as the one who “took you out of the land of Egypt”, and not as the creator of heaven and earth, which seems to be a better description of the awesome power of G-d. One answer is that G-d chose to speak to the people about the Exodus from Egypt, which they themselves experienced, rather than the creation, which they did not witness firsthand. The opening statement of the Ten Commandments offers Judaism's definition of G-d. Judaism teaches that G-d is not, as ancient philosophers described, merely infinite, transcendent, and abstract. G-d, as described in the Torah, is also very much imminent, present within reality, and concerned about life on earth; a G-d who cares, who feels the pain of the oppressed, and who is emotionally invested in creation. While creation of the universe expresses the infinite power of G-d, the story of the Exodus represents G-d’s connection to man. While creation tells of the awesome glory of the creator, G-d saving the Jewish people from the oppression of Egypt tells us of a personal, moral G-d, who is interested in a personal relationship with humanity that lives by moral principles. While the story of creation tells us about the greatness of G-d, the story of the Exodus tells us that G-d is interested in our behavior, because he wants a relationship with us.
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