Rabbi Johanan on He Went into the Wilderness Because He Foresaw

"And he led the flock behind the wilderness" (Exodus 3:1). Rabbi Yochanan said: Why was he heading toward the wilderness? Because he saw that Israel would be raised up from the wilderness, as it is said, "Who is this coming up from the wilderness?" (Song of Songs 3:6). The ascent is from the wilderness, the Torah is from the wilderness, the manna and the quail are from the wilderness, the Tabernacle is from the wilderness, the Divine Presence is from the wilderness, the priesthood and the kingship are from the wilderness, the well is from the wilderness, the clouds of glory are from the wilderness. Therefore, "And he led the flock behind the wilderness." "And he came to the mountain of God, to Horeb" (Exodus 3:1). Rabbi Shimon ben Yosi said: Moses's flock went forty days and tasted nothing, just as Elijah, may his memory be a blessing, went, as it is said, "And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights" (1 Kings 19:8). "And he led the flock behind the wilderness": it foretold to him that Israel, who are called a flock, would perish in the wilderness. "And he led the flock": it hinted to him that he would lead Israel forty years. And he too would be confined with the flock in the wilderness. And even when Moses asked about the needs of Israel, when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, Go on My mission, Moses said to Him, "Tell me, you whom my soul loves" (Song of Songs 1:7): how many pregnant ones are among them, how many are with young among them, how many bundles have You prepared for them, how many remedies have You prepared for the pregnant ones among them; "tell me, you whom my soul loves." The Holy One, blessed be He, answered him, "If you do not know, O fairest among women..." (Song of Songs 1:8). Therefore, "And he led the flock behind the wilderness." Once he reached Horeb, immediately "the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire" (Exodus 3:2). Why in a flame of fire? In order to encourage his heart, so that when he would come to Sinai and see that fire, he would not be afraid of it. Another interpretation: And why in a flame of fire (labbat esh)? From the two parts of the thornbush upward, for the heart (lev) is set from the two parts of a person upward. And why from within the thornbush, and not from within a great tree, and not from within a date palm? The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I wrote in the Torah, "I am with him in trouble" (Psalms 91:15). They are placed in subjugation, and I too am in the thornbush, in a narrow place. Therefore from within the thornbush, which is all thorns.