Ki Tisa - R'vi'i

G-d told Moshe that He was very pleased with the job he had been doing and therefore favorably disposed towards granting his requests.

"If that's the case," Moshe said, "I'd really like to understand Your ways."

"No can do," G-d replied. "Humans simply cannot comprehend. From your point of view, My ways are going to appear pretty arbitrary."

"Even so..."

"Fine, I'll allow you to understand Me with the benefit of hindsight."

Literally, this dialogue has Moshe asking to see G-d's "face" and G-d allowing him to see His "back" as He "passes by." The anthropomorphisms, of course, are for our benefit, but they are metaphors nonetheless.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz