In last week's parasha, we read that Moshe Rabbeinu changed the name of Hoshea to Y'hoshua. The observant among us (and thank goodness there was an observant 4th grader last week) were perplexed because it seems that Y'hoshua already had that name at the time of the cheit ha'eigal which happened several months earlier. I saw two different approaches to resolving the discrepancy. The Ho'il Moshe says that Y'hoshua's name really was changed now, but that the Torah haK'dosha used that name even before it was changed out of respect for Moshe. The name change is mentioned now to reveal his original name and the reason it was changed.
The Chizkuni answers that the name was changed when Y'hoshua became Moshe Rabbeinu's "heir apparent" and cites other examples where a new life role brings with it a new name; Avram became Avraham, Sarei became Sara, etc. The Torah ha'K'dosha reveals to us now why the hashgacha had it that Moshe chose that particular name. Understood that way underscores that each event in our lives only really makes sense in the context of our entire lives and how we fulfill our role in the entire Grand Scheme.
The Chizkuni answers that the name was changed when Y'hoshua became Moshe Rabbeinu's "heir apparent" and cites other examples where a new life role brings with it a new name; Avram became Avraham, Sarei became Sara, etc. The Torah ha'K'dosha reveals to us now why the hashgacha had it that Moshe chose that particular name. Understood that way underscores that each event in our lives only really makes sense in the context of our entire lives and how we fulfill our role in the entire Grand Scheme.
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