Talk about a tough crowd!
We find ourselves in the book of Numbers, Bamidbar in Hebrew, and the people are, shall we say, less than grateful. They're constantly complaining, doubting, and generally making Moses' life a living… well, you know. In Bamidbar Rabbah, a classical collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Numbers, the Rabbis delve deeply into a particular moment of crisis.
The verse in question is Numbers 14:11: "The Lord said to Moses: Until when will this people provoke Me, and until when will they not believe in Me, with all the signs that I have performed in their midst?" It's a cry of frustration, right? But the Rabbis in Bamidbar Rabbah see more than just divine annoyance here. They see a pattern, a prophecy.
According to Bamidbar Rabbah 16, the Holy One, Blessed be He, says, "'I screamed two screams because of you; ultimately, you will scream four in the subjugation to the kingdoms.'" The "two screams" refer to the two "until when" phrases in the verse. The Midrash connects this to the future suffering of the Jewish people. It then quotes Psalms 13:2-3: "How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I devise plans…? For how long will my enemies tower over me?” It’s a powerful image: God's frustration mirroring the future pain of His people.
And it doesn't stop there. God then exclaims, "Until when, for this evil congregation…" (Numbers 14:27). The Midrash says, ultimately, you will scream: “For I am in great terror. And You, Lord, until when?” (Psalms 6:4). These echoes of suffering really drive home the weight of the Israelites’ actions.
So, what does God propose? "I will smite them with the pestilence and eliminate them and make you a nation greater and mightier than them" (Numbers 14:12). A clean slate! Start over with Moses. Sounds tempting, right?
But Moses, ever the advocate, isn't having it. He steps in, reminding God of the covenant with their forefathers, the promise to bring forth kings, prophets, and priests. According to this passage in Bamidbar Rabbah, God retorts: "Are you not of their descendants? ‘I will render you a great nation’" (Exodus 32:10). It's as if God is saying, "Come on, Moses, you'd be part of the new deal!"
But Moses, in his wisdom, takes a different approach. He appeals to God's reputation. "Egypt will hear…and they will say regarding the inhabitants of this land" (Numbers 14:13–14) – ‘they will say that He did not have the strength to sustain them.’ He’s saying, "Think of what the Egyptians will say! They'll think you weren't strong enough to finish what you started!"
Moses continues, "They will say: He was able to prevail against us, but is unable to prevail against thirty-one kings." He then pleads, "Master of the universe, do it for Your sake: 'And now, please, let the might of my Lord be great' (Numbers 14:17), and let the attribute of mercy overcome the attribute of justice." He’s essentially saying: Show them what you’re really made of – not just power, but mercy!
And here's where it gets really interesting. Moses reminds God of something He Himself revealed! “As You spoke, saying” (Numbers 14:17) – did I not say before You: With what attribute do You judge your world; “please inform me of Your ways”? (Exodus 33:13). You passed [he’evarta] it before me: “The Lord passed [vayaavor] before him and proclaimed” (Exodus 34:6). Fulfill that attribute that You said to me: “The Lord, the Lord, God merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6). “Please pardon”’ (Numbers 14:19).
Moses is invoking the Shelosh Esrei Middot, the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, which God revealed to him after the sin of the Golden Calf. He’s saying, "You showed me who you truly are! Now, act accordingly!"
And what happens? "The Lord said: I have pardoned in accordance with your word" (Numbers 14:20). God concedes. He forgives. Not because the Israelites necessarily deserved it, but because Moses appealed to God's own self-defined nature, to His commitment to mercy. As Bamidbar Rabbah concludes, God pardoned them "as the Egyptians would have been destined to say as you said."
What a powerful lesson! It shows us the importance of advocacy, of standing up for what's right, even when it's difficult. And it reminds us that even when things seem hopeless, even when we feel like giving up on ourselves or others, the attribute of mercy can always prevail. It’s a testament to the power of prayer, the strength of a covenant, and the enduring hope for redemption, even in the face of repeated disappointment. It makes you think, doesn't it?