"With a pious person, act piously; with an upright man, be upright; with a pure one, be pure; and with a crooked one, deal crookedly." (Psalms 18:26) Rabbi Judah interpreted the verse regarding Abraham: "When Abraham walked with God in piety, God walked with him in piety. When Abraham walked with God in innocence, God walked with him in innocence. And when Abraham walked with God in shrewdness, God walked with him in shrewdness."
When did God walk with Abraham in piety? When Abraham said to Him, "O Lord God, what can You give me?" What is written afterwards? "This man shall not be your heir."
When did God walk with Abraham in innocence? When Abraham said to Him, "Please do not pass by Your servant." What is written there? "And Abraham was still standing before the Lord."
And when Abraham walked with God in shrewdness, God walked with him likewise. When did Abraham walk with God in shrewdness? When Abraham said to Him, "How will I know?" What is written afterwards?
"You shall surely know." Rabbi Simon said: "The final redaction of the Torah was delayed because the Shechinah was waiting for Moses to finish his conversation with God." Rabbi Nehemiah interpreted the verse regarding Moses: "When Moses walked with God in piety, God walked with him in piety." When did God walk with Moses in piety?
When Moses said, "Why does the bush not burn up?" It means that his words stood firm with Him. What is written there? "And Moses hid his face."
And when Moses walked with God in innocence, God walked with him likewise. When did Moses walk with God in innocence? When Moses said to Him, "And what shall I say to them?" He said to him, "I will be who I will be."
And when did He come to him stubbornly? At the moment when He said to him (Exodus 4:13), "Please, Lord, send [someone else]." What is written there (Exodus 16)? "And speak to the people."
And when was it clarified about His dealings? At the moment when He said (Exodus 33:18), "Please, show me Your glory." What is written there (Exodus 33:19)? "I will make all My goodness pass before you."
Rabbi Samuel said, "The reason why the Holy One, blessed be He, kept Moses busy for seven days [on Mount Sinai] was that He was tempting him. As it is said (Exodus 4:10), 'And Moses said unto the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue."' 'Heretofore' refers to the first day of his life, 'neither since' to the second day, 'nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant' to the third day, 'for I am slow of speech' to the fourth day, 'and of a slow tongue' to the fifth day, 'and since seven days have passed' to the sixth day, and 'they are yet unfulfilled' to the seventh day.
On the seventh day He said to him (Exodus 4:13), 'Please, Lord, send [someone else],' but he refused and said to God, 'O Lord of the Universe! I have thought what Thou hast said to our father Abraham, "And they shall afflict them four hundred years," and now two hundred and ten years have already passed, and they are still in captivity.' God replied, 'I will do what I have already thought. I have anticipated the end from the day when Isaac was born, and it is already accomplished, as it is said (Song of Songs 2:8), "He stands behind our wall."'
This is what is meant by the verse (Psalms 103:7), "He made known His ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel." The deed which He performed for the children of Israel. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, 'I will cause My Presence to pass before you, and you shall see My back.' And when did He appease him?
Rabbi Berechiah said, 'During all the seven days of the month of Adar, Moses would seek forgiveness and entreat God to let him enter the land. On the seventh day, God said to him (Deuteronomy 3:27), "For you shall not pass over the Jordan." Rabbi Helbo said, 'During all the seven days of the consecration of the Tabernacle, Moses was asking to serve as high priest, as it is said (Leviticus 9:1), "And it came to pass on the eighth day."