Parshat Yitro- Your Relationship With G-d
by Rabbi Lobel

(Exodus; Chapter 20, Verse 3) “There shall not be for you the Gods of others before me.”

The second of the Ten Commandments forbids idolatry. Then, several verses later, the Torah commands “You shall not make images, with me, of Gods of silver and Gods of gold.” (Chapter 20, Verse 20)

Why the double warning?

The Sforno ( 20:20 ) explains that, before the second warning, G-d told Moses to tell the Jewish people, ( 20:19 ) “You have seen that from the heavens I have spoken to you.” G-d then warned the Jewish nation that, just as you have seen Me with all my Glory, come down from heaven and speak to all, so too it is unnecessary to have any intermediary between us.

The Sforno is saying that the second warning against creating images includes creating intermediaries between us and G-d. Every single individual has his own direct relationship with G-d. Not only doesn't anybody need a “go between”, it is forbidden to create one.

When G-d came down on Mount Sinai , He not only gave us the Torah, he also established a personal relationship with each individual. We do not need intermediaries to ask for livelihood, forgiveness, and strength to do better; each person can speak directly to G-d.