Now we can answer the questions of the Ohr Hachaim on the words:
"ועתה יגדל נא כח ה' כאשר דברת לאמר"
What is the meaning of the word "ועתה"?
What is the meaning of "יגדל נא" which implies that Hashem is going to do something to show Himself to be great, but we find no such action?
What is the translation of the word "נא"? If it means "now" - it already said "ועתה" which means "now"? If it is a request, then it should have first said "נא" before the word "יגדל" and say "ועתה נא יגדל" - "And please make Your power great". What is the meaning of "And make great please Your power"?
What is the meaning of "כאשר דברת" - as you spoke. What and when did Hashem speak?
What is the meaning of "לאמר"? Who should these words be passed on to?? [See Ohr Hachaim and Alshich].
Based on what we wrote the explanation is that since Moshe's permission to daven comes from the Makkos which were designed to reveal the power of Hashem, it must be that the tfilla and request for forgiveness in the merit of the 13 Middos Ha-Rachamim will be in such away as to reveal the might of Hashem. Therefore it says "ועתה" which means that now I have the power of tfillah because of the process of the revelation of Hashem's great power, I am also requesting forgiveness which also includes a revelation of Hashem's power and that is through the Middos of ארך אפים etc. etc. which are כחות and מדות of Hashem. The revelation of these Middos increaes Hashem's greatness in our eyes.
Then it says "כאשר דברת לאמר" -"as you spoke saying" meaning when you performed the Makkos. דיבר always denotes a harsh language and the Makkos were indeed rough. From this דיבור came a לאמר because it "spoke" the might of Hashem. So automatically [ממילא], I have the right to request once again the revelation of the greatness and power of Hashem through the expression of His Middos "ארך אפים" etc. And as a result "סלח נא כגודל חסדך" - Forgive in Your great kindness. So we understand the "ועתה" the "יגדל" and the "כאשר דברת" together with the "לאמר".
According to this we can explain the words "יגדל נא", that "נא" means "now" [the request is stated later "סלח נא"] and is different than what it said earlier "ועתה". The first "ועתה" is not talking about the time frame of "now" but is a continuation from what it said earlier. "Now" that I have the right and privilege to ask, what do I ask? "יגדל נא" Hashem's greatness should be revealed "now" by forgiving His people.
The Medrash says
"מתי כוחך גדול בעולמך? בשעה שאתה מאריך רוחך שנאמר ועתה יגדל נא כח ה'"
When is Your power great in Your world? When you have patience, as it says 'and now make your power great in the world'.
As we explained there is a new revelation of Hashem's power here, that could only be requested because of the earlier expression of Hashem's power.
WOW!!😊😊
[עפ"י תורתו של מו"ר הגאון הגדול רבי ד"י מן זצ"ל]
