It wasn't just a simple "Okay, God, I'll go." According to the Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, Moses' agreement came with conditions. He wanted assurances that his requests would be fulfilled. And God, in His infinite wisdom, granted almost everything, except immortality and entry into the Promised Land.
One of Moses’s biggest concerns? Those old enemies, Dathan and Abiram, the ones who'd driven him out of Egypt in the first place. God reassured him that they were no longer a threat, reduced to poverty and insignificance.
But before heading back, Moses had to honor his oath to his father-in-law, Jethro. He wouldn't return to Egypt without Jethro's blessing. So, he went back to Midian, and Jethro, thankfully, gave his consent freely.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. Moses packed up his wife and children to go with him. Jethro questioned this, saying, "Those who are in Egypt are to leave it, and you want to take more there?" Moses had a good reason, though. He argued that when the Israelites were redeemed and gathered at Mount Sinai to hear God's words, his sons should be there too. Jethro conceded, saying, "Go in peace, enter Egypt in peace, and leave the land in peace."
So, off Moses went, with his family, on a very special donkey. This wasn't just any donkey; it was the same one that carried Abraham to the Akedah, the binding of Isaac, on Mount Moriah. And, get this, it's also said to be the same donkey the Messiah will ride upon at the end of days! Quite a pedigree, right?
But even with all this, Moses was still hesitant. He traveled slowly, worried about the Israelites' reaction. He imagined them saying, "We know our slavery is supposed to last 400 years, and the end isn't here yet!" He figured delaying his arrival might be a good strategy.
God wasn’t thrilled with this plan. He reminded Moses that Joseph had prophesied the oppression would only last 210 years. According to the tradition, Moses' lack of faith led to a pretty intense experience on the road.
The angels Af and Hemah appeared and swallowed Moses whole, right down to his feet! He was only released after Zipporah, his wife, circumcised their son Gershom with remarkable speed – like a "bird," the text says – and touched Moses' feet with the blood of the circumcision.
Why hadn't Gershom been circumcised earlier? Well, Jethro had stipulated that their first son should be raised as a Gentile as a condition of the marriage. Talk about complicated family dynamics!
After being freed, Moses, being Moses, actually attacked the angels, killing Hemah. But Hemah’s angelic host put up a good fight.
Meanwhile, back in Egypt, Aaron heard the same Divine voice Moses heard in Midian, but with a different instruction: to go into the wilderness to meet Moses. As the tradition teaches us, God's voice speaks in marvelous ways, and the same revelation can be understood differently in different places.
The reunion between the brothers was joyful. There was no envy or jealousy between them. Aaron rejoiced that God had chosen Moses, and Moses was happy that Aaron was to be the high priest. God knew their hearts. Moses had even worried about encroaching on Aaron's prophetic role! But God reassured him that Aaron would be happy for him.
As a reward for his generous spirit, Aaron was later permitted to wear the Urim and Thummim upon his heart. The tradition states: "the heart that rejoiced at the exalting of a brother shall wear the Urim and Thummim." These were objects used for divination, signifying Aaron's close connection to the Divine.
The brothers met, embraced, and then... a little tension. Aaron questioned why Moses was bringing his family to Egypt, echoing Jethro's earlier concern. Moses, recognizing Aaron's point, sent his wife and sons back to Jethro. Both brothers showed great magnanimity, each putting the needs of the community above their own desires.
And here's a beautiful detail: Moses immediately shared all his teachings and revelations with Aaron, even the secret of the Ineffable Name, the holiest name of God, which he had received on Mount Horeb.
Then, in obedience to God's command, they gathered the elders of Israel. Moses performed miracles to prove he was the redeemer. But, according to the text, it wasn't the miracles themselves that convinced the elders. It was the words Moses spoke, the words God had used to announce the coming redemption: "I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt" (Exodus 3:16).
These words were a secret sign, passed down through generations. Jacob had revealed it to Joseph, who shared it with his brothers. The last surviving brother, Asher, told it to his daughter Serah. She was still alive when Moses returned.
The elders went to Serah and asked her if Moses's words matched the secret sign. When she confirmed they did, everyone believed in him. The redemption was at hand!
Moses then invited the elders to join him in confronting Pharaoh. But fear got the better of them. One by one, they slipped away until only Moses and Aaron remained. Their punishment for this lack of courage? They weren't allowed to ascend Mount Sinai with Moses later on. They could only go as far on the path to God as they had been willing to go on the path to Pharaoh.
So, what do we take away from this story? It's a reminder that even the greatest leaders have moments of doubt and hesitation. It highlights the importance of family, loyalty, and the power of shared knowledge. And it shows us that even when fear holds us back, God's plan can still unfold, even if we miss out on some of the journey. It’s a deeply human story, filled with both divine intervention and very human struggles. What does that say to us about the nature of leadership, and of faith?