Devar/5768/Shemot
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עברית
English
And Moses said unto the LORD: 'Oh Lord, I am not a man of words, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue (Ex 4:10)
Why did God choose a person who was "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue" to represent the Children of Israel? Further, why did He choose an eighty-year old man? (See Ex 7:7) Were there not others among the Children of Israel who could have represented God and the people in a more honorable manner?
Truly, it seems strange that God would send a stuttering old man as his emissary to Pharaoh, King of Egypt - the most important ruler in those times! If He had sent someone strong and young, with eloquent speech, the Children of Israel would have been able to say that Pharaoh was convinced by his speech, or by his impressive appearance. Therefore He sent a man who was not especially imposing, who had, however, an extremely important trait: humility.
King David of blessed memory said, Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. (Psalms 146:3). He continues: Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God. We need to rely on God; Who will save us, even when we take steps ourselves to improve our situation.
By sending Moses our Teacher of blessed memory to Pharaoh, God may His name be blessed sends a strong mesage: you were not saved by flesh and blood, rather and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring forth My hosts, My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt, by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth My hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them. (Ex 7:4-5)
Moses' humility makes it possible for him to fulfill his mission to its fullest extent. It doesn't occur to him to take pride in what he has accomplished, so to speak - rather, he knows and teaches others that only by God's grace were they rescued from Egypt. The trait of humility is sadly lacking in the majority of politicians today. May God grant the words of His prophet be fulfilled soon: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city. (Isa 1:26)
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