Moses Struck for Suspecting Israel Would Not Believe

(Exodus 4:1-9) "But they will not believe me" (Exodus 4:1). Resh Lakish said: One who suspects worthy people is stricken in his body. From where do we know this? From Moses. As it is written, "But they will not believe me," yet it was revealed before the Holy One, blessed be He, that they would believe. He said to him: They are believers, children of believers, but you - in the end you will not believe. Believers, as it is written (further on, verse 31), "and the people believed." Children of believers, as it is written (Genesis 15:6), "and he believed in the LORD." And you - in the end you will not believe, as it is written, "because you did not believe in Me" (Numbers 20:12). And from where that he was stricken? As it is written, "Put now your hand into your bosom" (Exodus 4:6). Rava said: A good measure comes more swiftly than a measure of punishment. Regarding the measure of punishment it is written, "and he brought it out, and behold, his hand was leprous"; whereas regarding the good measure it is written, "and he brought it out from his bosom, and behold, it had returned like his flesh" - it was from his bosom that it returned like his flesh. "And Aaron's staff swallowed their staffs" (Exodus 7:12). Rabbi Eleazar said: A miracle within a miracle. He said to him: You speak slander against My children. Just as the serpent that spoke slander - I struck it with leprosy - so too you, "put now your hand into your bosom." "And it shall be, if they will not believe, and you shall take from the water" (Exodus 4:9) - He hinted to him: from where will you take what is yours? From the water, as it is said (Numbers 20:10), "Shall we bring forth water for you from this rock?" "And he cast it on the ground and it became a serpent" (Exodus 4:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Just as the serpent twists, so Pharaoh is destined to twist against you. This is (Isaiah 46:10) "declaring the end from the beginning." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: These two signs, the serpent and the leper - one is Mine and one is yours. "And the people spoke against God and against Moses... and the LORD sent the serpents among the people" (Numbers 21:5-6) - and whoever speaks against you personally is stricken with leprosy, "and behold, Miriam was leprous as snow" (Numbers 12:10).