Another interpretation: “Why are you crying out to Me?” – that is what is written: “You will decree a matter, and it will be established for you” (Job 22:28). Rabbi Levi said: Just as the Holy One blessed be He commands Moses and speaks with him, so Moses, as it were, commands before the Holy One blessed be He, as the descendants of Joseph say to him [to Moses]: “'The Lord commanded [tziva] my lord…and my lord was commanded [tzuva]1The midrash is reading the passive form, tzuvv, was commanded, as if it were the active form, tziva; Moses commanded God, as it were. by the Lord…” (Numbers 36:2).
Just as the Holy One blessed be He calls Moses and speaks with him, so Moses calls the Holy One blessed be He and speaks with him, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses” and it is written: “Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: “Let the Lord, God of the spirits, appoint…” (Numbers 27:15–16). See how powerful he was: When he saw Pharaoh pursuing the children of Israel, he came to cry out, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Moses: Why are you crying out to Me?”
He said to him: ‘Why are you in distress?’ Rabbi Yehoshua said: This is analogous to the beloved of a king who had an issue and went to cry out before the king. The king said: ‘Why are you crying out? Decree and I will do it.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “Why are you crying out to Me” – speak and I will do it.