A Celestial Partnership: Exploring the Transcendent Dialogues of Our Prophets
Yeshayahu 1:1 - 1:27
שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְהַאֲזִ֣ינִי אֶ֔רֶץ
(Yeshayahu 1:2)
Towards the beginning of the Haftorah, the Navi Yeshayahu summons heaven and earth. He cries out,שִׁמְע֤וּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְהַאֲזִ֣ינִי אֶ֔רֶץ, listen Heaven and pay close attention Earth. The imagery that Yeshayahu employs is particularly noteworthy because Moshe Rabbeinu at the very end of his life also calls to Heaven and Earth. However, when Moshe addresses Heaven, he ask Heaven to pay close attention and when he speaks to Earth, he ask Earth to listen - הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וַאֲדַבֵּ֑רָה וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ אִמְרֵי־פִֽי. Many commentators discuss why Yeshayahu switches the verbs Moshe Rabbeinu uses when talking to Heaven and Earth. Radak suggests that Moshe, having spent forty days on two different occasions up in Heaven, is closer to Heaven and therefore it is natural for him to ask Heaven to pay close attention and for the Earth to merely listen. By contrast, Yeshayahu is naturally closer to Earth and asks the Earth to pay attention and Heaven to listen.
Perhaps an additional perspective as to why Yeshayahu flips the expressions that Moshe uses focuses not on Moshe and Yeshayahu but rather on the nature of the messages that these great men seek to deliver. Moshe wants Heaven and Earth to bear witness to the eternal truth of Hashem and the Torah. He wants Klal Yisrael, on the cusp of their entry to the Land of Israel preparing to assume an agrarian way of life, to constantly look heavenward and not be consumed with earthly matters. Therefore, Moshe stresses the role of Heaven. Yeshayahu seeks to admonish the people who are absorbed with Earthly issues in a sinful way. He therefore implores the Earth to hearken to his message. The very same Earth they are consumed with is going to hold them responsible for their deeds.
We strive today to bridge Heaven and Earth in an effort to draw closer to Hashem. Not only are we to study the words of the Torah which come from Heaven but to live it here on Earth. In this way, we will bring redemption to our world.