That’s hardcore.
What's the secret?
Well, Jewish tradition offers a fascinating explanation. It wasn’t just about toughing it out. It goes much deeper. The Makhon Siftei Tzaddikim on Genesis 1:16 suggests that Moses achieved something extraordinary: he elevated himself to the level of an angel.
Think about that for a moment. Angels, as we understand them in Jewish lore, don’t need earthly sustenance. They exist on a different plane, sustained by a spiritual energy we can barely comprehend. So, if Moses became like an angel, then food and water simply weren't necessary for him.
It's not quite a full-blown transformation, like we see in the story of Enoch, who, as Schwartz recounts in "The Metamorphosis and Enthronement of Enoch," becomes the angel Metatron. Moses didn’t permanently morph into an angel. But he achieved a similar state of spiritual elevation. He became as exalted as an angel.
It's a powerful idea, isn’t it? That through intense spiritual connection and divine purpose, a human being can transcend the limitations of their physical form. It makes you wonder what we're all capable of, doesn't it? What hidden strengths we possess when we truly connect to something bigger than ourselves. Maybe we can't all go forty days without eating, but perhaps we all have the potential to tap into a deeper well of resilience and strength than we realize.