“Moses said to God: 'Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should take the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 3:11) “Moses said to God: Who am I [anokhi]?” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: This is analogous to a king who married off his daughter and committed to give her one province and gentlewoman as a maidservant, and he gave her a Kushite maidservant. His son-in-law said: ‘Didn’t you commit to give me a gentlewoman as a maidservant?’
So, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, when Jacob descended to Egypt, didn’t you say this to them: “I [Anokhi] will descend with you into Egypt and I [Anokhi] will take you up” (Genesis 46:4), and now you say to me: “Go now, and I will send you to Pharaoh”? It is not I [anokhi] about whom you said: “And I [Anokhi] will take you up.”’12Moses is, as it were, pointing out to God that He promised to take Israel out of Egypt Himself, and not by means of an agent.
Another interpretation: Rabbi Nehorai says: Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘You say to me: Go and take Israel out. Where do I shelter13Following Rabbi David Luria’s emendation mashkinam rather that mashkim. them in the summer due to the sun, and in the winter due to the cold? From where do I provide food and drink? How many birth mothers are among them, how many pregnant women, how many children are among them, how many types of foods have you provided them to sustain them, how many delicacies have you prepared for the pregnant women, how much toasted grain and how many nuts have you provided for the children?’
Where is this matter explicated? It is in Song of Songs, as it is stated: “Tell me, whom my soul loves…” (Song of Songs 1:7). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘The bread that came out with them from Egypt will suffice them for thirty days; you know how I am destined to lead them.’ Another interpretation: “Who am I?” – He [Moses] said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, how am I able to enter a place of robbers and a place of murderers?
That is: “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh…” “And that I should take the children of Israel out” – what merit do they possess that will enable me to take them out?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “Because I will be with you” (Exodus 3:12). One says “I will be with you” only to someone who is afraid. “He said: Because I will be with you, and this is your sign that it is I who sent you: When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve God upon this mountain” (Exodus 3:12).
“And this is your sign that I sent you” – and in this manner it will be apparent that you are My emissary, because I will be with you and anything you wish I will perform. “When you take the people out of Egypt, you will serve God upon this mountain.” That which you said: ‘With what merit will I take them out of Egypt?’ Know that due to the merit of the Torah that they are destined to receive through you on this mountain they will emerge from there.
Another matter: “[you will serve] God” – what is it that He said to him: “That I [anokhi] sent you”?14Why does the verse change from first person to third person? “This is your sign that it is I who sent you…you will serve God.” Our Rabbis of blessed memory said: A sign of the first deliverance is that Israel went down to Egypt with anokhi, as it is stated: “I [anokhi] will go down with you to Egypt” (Genesis 46:4), and with anokhi I will take you up.
A sign of the ultimate redemption is that with anokhi they will be cured and are destined to be delivered, as it is stated: “Behold I [anokhi] will send you Elijah the prophet” (Malachi 3:23).