Pensée juive sur Isaïe 63:16

Proclaiming the name of G'd (verse 3) is designed to make the people listen to Moses' speech, and to put on record G'ds absolute perfection. Verse four is very precise about that. Moses is anxious to preclude the thought that any future disasters befalling the Jewish people could be rooted in an imperfection on the part of G'd. The very idea that Israel could repay a G'd who had proven His perfection with evil for the good He has done for it, can only be due to the fact that it is Israel who is a foolish and unwise people.(verse 6) Moses extols G'ds unique role which far exceeds what any natural father would have done for his son. G'ds claim on the Jewish people is therefore that much stronger than the claim of a natural father on his son. Moses credits G'd with four distinct contributions to Israel's existence. "Your father, --your owner,--who has made you,--and who preserves and maintains you." 1) He brought us into the world, just like a father begets us. 2) He continues to own what He has created, not like an artist or craftsman who sells his creations. 3) Unlike the natural father who is only one of the causes contributing to a son being born, seeing that there is also a mother, G'd is the sole Maker of the Jewish person or nation. 4) He maintains His comprehensive supervision over us during our entire lifetime, something a natural father could not do even if he wanted to. To establish the truth of the four points made, Moses says "remember the six, respectively seven days of creation," and you will understand about the fact that G'd has fathered you. When you reflect on "the years of generations past," you will agree that no one has a prior claim on you. "Ask your father," and he will tell you that whereas a natural father when he sires a son did not plan to create a specific personality, G'd did have this in mind. "Your elders, and they will tell you." They will inform you that there is no other force in the world that can assure your continued existence except He. (verse 7)