“He called to Moses” – did He not call to Adam?17The verse “He called to Moses” is understood to imply something unique about Moses, that God called to him without Moses actively seeking or preparing for prophecy. However, the Torah indicates that God similarly called out to Adam (Etz Yosef). Is it not already stated: “The Lord God called to the man” (Genesis 3:9)? Rather, there is no disgrace in a king speaking to his sharecropper.18Adam is compared to God’s sharecropper, because the verse states that God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden “to cultivate it and to safeguard it” (Genesis 2:15).
“The Lord spoke to him” – did He not speak with Noah? Is it not already stated: “God spoke to Noah” (Genesis 8:15)? Rather, there is no disgrace in a king speaking to his shepherd. “He called to Moses” – did He not call to Abraham?
Is it not already stated: “The angel of the Lord called to Abraham” (Genesis 22:15)? Rather, there is no disgrace in a king speaking to his innkeeper. “He called to Moses” – unlike Abraham. Regarding Abraham it is written: “The angel of the Lord called to Abraham” (Genesis 22:15) – the angel called, and the divine speech spoke.
However, here, Rabbi Avin said: The Holy One blessed be He said: It is I who calls, and it is I who speaks, as it is stated: “I, it is I, who has spoken, I also have called him; I brought him, and his way is successful” (Isaiah 48:15).