“I Am Hashem Your God”: The First Commandment and What It Means Today

A Voice from the Fire: When a Nation Met Its Creator

The first of the Ten Commandments begins with a declaration: “I am Hashem your God” (Exodus 20:2). This short phrase holds a powerful message, which Maimonides describes as "the foundation of all foundations and the pillar of wisdom: to know that there is a Primary Being who brought into being all existence" (Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah 1:1).

But what does this really mean? Why does this commandment begin this way? What relevance does it have for our daily lives?

To understand, it is instructive to return to the moment this commandment was given. At Mount Sinai, Hashem gathered the entire Jewish nation - men, women, children, elders, and infants - nearly three million people in total (see Exodus 12:37). The mountain was ablaze with fire, and the world stood in awe. The people witnessed a once-in-history revelation, as Hashem proclaimed: “I am Hashem your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 20:2).

This statement is more than a theological claim. It’s deeply personal. Hashem doesn’t just identify as the Creator of the universe, but as the One who personally intervened in Jewish history. “I am the One you saw with your own eyes,” He tells them. “I am the One who turned nature on its head to take you, a nation of slaves, out of Egypt. This wasn't a covert operation. It was done proudly and openly, with the Egyptian empire begging you to leave, even giving you wealth as you departed” (see Exodus 12:30–36).

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, in the Kuzari (First Essay, 25), raises a pivotal question: Why did Hashem define Himself through the Exodus from Egypt rather than as the Creator of the world? Isn't Creation the basis of faith?

He answers that for the Jewish people, the Exodus is more essential to faith. When the Jews went free from Egypt, every man, woman, and child experienced Hashem’s control over nature firsthand. They saw His active supervision of the world with their own eyes. They witnessed His willingness to overturn the laws of nature for their sake. Nothing strengthens belief more than direct encounter. 

Thus, when Hashem says “I am Hashem your God”, He is not introducing Himself in the abstract. He is saying, “I am the One you saw. The One who split the sea. The One who changed history for you.” In this context, the word Elokim implies rulership and mastery. Hashem is not only the source of life, but the One who governs all existence.

Every person can reflect on moments of Divine intervention in their own life; times when we sensed that Hashem guided our narrow escape or unexpected success. When we observe the world around us and sense the complexity of life and the harmony of nature, it becomes evident that it did not create itself. “I am Hashem, your God." This is not a philosophical idea; it’s a truth woven into our personal life stories.

As King Solomon wrote, “I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and circumstance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Success isn’t always earned through strength or strategy. It’s directed from above.

At times, people ask: Where is Divine justice? Why didn’t Hashem protect me? But not every hardship is what it seems at first. Often, events that appear negative are later understood to have led to greater good. As the Sages taught, “One must bless for the bad just as he blesses for the good” (Berachot 54a). Moreover, we must take responsibility: have we drawn close to Hashem through mitzvot (commandments), prayer, or spiritual focus? If not, how can we demand His intervention? As Solomon warns, “A man's folly corrupts his way, and his heart rages against Hashem” (Proverbs 19:3).

Hashem reminds us: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways” (Isaiah 55:8–9). Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so too, His ways are far beyond our grasp.

Living with “I Am Hashem Your God”

The first commandment is not just about belief. It’s about perception. A person who strives to place Hashem constantly before them, as in “I have set Hashem before me always” (Psalms 16:8), walks through life with greater clarity and protection. Divine awareness brings spiritual focus, moral strength, and protection from the pitfalls of sin.

This is why the statement “I am Hashem your God” is the cornerstone of the entire Torah. It’s not only the opening of the Ten Commandments. It’s the key to seeing the world and ourselves through the lens of Divine relationship. And in that awareness lies the strength to live with purpose, direction, and trust.