Va-Eira: Was Moses the Worst Person for the Job?

The Exodus got off to a rough start. So rough, in fact, that it might have petered out before it even got off the ground! In our popular imagination, we picture Moses taking on Pharaoh. Each represents a

nation, and has the FULL support of his people. The classic version of the story tells us the first road block came when Pharaoh refused to let them leave; before that, things were smooth sailing. And yet, when we actually READ the text, we see that God and Moses had a heck of a tough time rallying the troops, and that the Israelites were NOT on board with the Exodus-plan as presented. At one point, exasperated, Moses declares to God: "If the Israelites won't listen to me; why should Pharaoh listen???" (Exodus 6:12) Indeed, it is a moment for all of us - in the calm before the storm - to think about leadership, role modeling, and what it means for followers to... well... follow.

Right before Moses made his plea to God, he had actually laid out a pretty compelling case to the Children of Israel. With mighty verbs, he spoke in God's Name about all the great things that were to come: "I am Adonai. I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you... I will take you to be My people... I will bring you into the land... I will give it to you as a possession..." (Ex. 6:6-8)

Powerful stuff. But sadly, it struck the Israelites as "too little, too late." The Torah tells us they didn't listen, because "their spirits were crushed by cruel bondage" (v. 9). And I also wonder, as many commentators do, if it was just a bit too painful to hear all this coming from Moses. They knew he had grown up in Pharaoh's palace, and that he never actually experienced ANY of their slavery himself. Just imagine it for yourself: Someone tells you they know how low your salary is, how expensive health insurance can be, the cost of daycare, and all the other bills that make it hard to stay afloat and which give you sleepless nights... and the person offering you their sympathy is themselves the wealthiest person in town. The message may be true, but do you want to hear it from them?

However, the commentators are conflicted. Our Etz Hayim Chumash posits: "It may be that only one whose spirit had NOT been crushed by slavery could be capable of leading the people to freedom." Maybe the people NEEDED an outsider to redeem them, because they themselves were too broken. And certainly we know that Moses could speak

Pharaoh's language unlike the other Israelites. So was he perfectly situated for this task, or an insult to the Hebrew slaves? One thing is certainly true; the people chafe under his leadership. He does not have their support BEFORE the plagues, then briefly holds it right after they leave Egypt, only to lose it again at the first sign of trouble in the desert. There's no way to sugarcoat it; the Israelites didn't consider Moses one of their own. As someone who grew up as an outsider-American in Sweden, and then was called "Swede" when he moved to the US, I can relate. Moses probably seemed like an Israelite to everyone in Egypt, but an Egyptian to all the Hebrews. But I still can't decide if that makes him the worst candidate for this job... or perhaps the best.

It is a difficult question, and I think it's one that resonates with us today as well. If parts of our society are broken, can we fix them ourselves or do we need an outsider to bring a fresh perspective? It's the "maverick vs. insider" debate that rages constantly in politics. Who is best suited to heal what ails us? Regardless of

the answer (if there even is one, single solution to this problem...), one thing the Torah tries to teach us is the importance of understanding the people who need help. The Israelites want to be known, seen, and understood. And they deserve to be. Even today, how can we even begin to try and free someone from proverbial (or actual) slavery, if we don't understand the underlying reasons WHY they are enslaved, or how they got there in the first place? Insight and consideration are absolutely vital. There's no question that our world is filled with problems in need of repair, calling out for Tikkun Olam. But it's important to remember that charging ahead without sensitivity and respect can sometimes harm, rather than heal. The Torah reminds us that freeing those enslaved IS good... but as crucial as that work is, it still requires love, compassion, and appreciation. Hey, nobody said it was easy.

Photos in this blog post:

1. CC image courtesy of Roger May on Wikimedia Commons
2.CC image courtesy of centpacrr on Wikimedia Commons
3. Sugarcoated CC image from Massimilianogalardi on Wikimedia Commons
4. CC image courtesy of Hohum on Wikimedia Commons