Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Moshe= Humility?

BS”D
Moshe is humble?
The events surrounding the career of Moshe our Teacher, never cease to amaze. Moshe seems larger than life , yet he seems so vulnerable to criticism . He
Fears the reaction of the masses even while he stands up to face and confront them .
In our torah portion , the criticisms of Moshe seem to be never ending! Upon giving the nation cause for celebration, the undertakers are unhappy because they can’t participate. Then the leadership gets upset together with the riffraff about the arduous travels . They get zapped. However, the complaining doesn’t end.
“We want meat from G-D , not Manna“, say some of the
Egyptians who went along for the glory that was to be Israel’s . Some of the tribes partake in the protest which is uncalled for . This is the third time they complain about their diet . Isn’t it enough that they see miracles on a daily basis ? Why must they anger G-D ?
It is human nature to want to be one’s own boss . So when you are dependent , subconsciously you rebel .
This comes out, through complaints . G-D, who understands human nature, provides for this yearning
to be free . The people are soon allowed to have a greater say in their affairs. However, the gluttonous amongst them will never become satisfied and will have to be removed from the group.
Moshe isn’t done with the complainers . First the undertakers ,then the riffraff , the leaders, then the gluttons. Now. The complainers are his own sister , Miriam and his brother Aaron the High Priest! Nothing Moshe does seems to be without criticism. Isn’t there anything he can do about it?
The answer is that the People of Israel are a people of leaders . No matter how great our leader is , we always second guess him. If a man as great as Moshe can be criticized at every juncture, we must realize how much more vulnerable we are to being scrutinized .
The reason we can say that Moshe was humbler than all other people was that he never pulled rank and said how dare you question me , I am G-D’s prophet ! Even when he exhorted the people for their challenge to G-D , it was never how dare you insult me etc…
Moshe was strictly an issues man. Was the issue right or wrong . It was never me vs. you.
Although Moshe knew he was the greatest man ever in his relationship with G-D , he never felt superior, in essence, to any of his people . Even upon confronting Pharaoh and his servants who had brutalized Israel for over a century , Moshe was concerned about their welfare.
When a person is mindful of the other when he need not be , this is the sign of a man who has overcome his own self-importance. Such a man will be the Moshiach who will combine absolute authority with absolute humility !

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