Listen vs Hearing

The encounter between Moses and God at the burning bush: Moses is reluctant to undertake the redemption of the Children of Israel from slavery and agrees only after God assures him that the elders of Israel will follow him.  V’shmoo l’kolecha, “And they shall listen to your voice.”  But Moses is initially a failure. Not only does Pharaoh refuse to hear but the Israelites too, are reluctant to follow his lead.

Rabbi Menachem Mendl of Kotsk was bothered by this turn of events.  Had not God promised Moses that the children of Israel would listen to him? Is it possible that God was leading Moses astray? He finds an answer in a close examination of the biblical text, noting that God tells Moses, V’shamoo l’kolecha “and they will hear your voice” and not v’shamoo b’kolecha “they will listen to your voice.” There is a big difference between hearing and listening.