Ben Sira chapter 45 gives us a glimpse, a whisper of what it meant for Moses and Aaron to be elevated by God.
"And God honored him, and strengthened him in the heights." It begins with Moses. Think about that for a second. Honored. Strengthened. Not just on some earthly plane, but "in the heights." It paints a picture of divine empowerment, a soaring elevation beyond the ordinary.
"With his words, the letters He sped up, and He strengthened him before the king; and He commanded the people, and they saw His glory." The text continues, highlighting the power of Moses's words. And not just any words, but the words, the very letters of the divine communication. We see Moses standing before Pharaoh, strengthened by God, his words imbued with a force that commanded attention, a glory that even a hardened king could not ignore. It wasn't just about rhetoric; it was about the divine presence shining through.
"In his faithfulness and his humility, He chose him from all flesh." This is key: faithfulness and humility. It wasn't brute strength or worldly power that earned Moses his place. It was his unwavering devotion, his willingness to submit to a higher purpose, coupled with a profound humility. He was chosen not because of who he was, but because of who he strived to be.
And the intimacy of the divine connection deepens. "And He caused him to hear his voice, and He drew him to the thick cloud." Imagine that moment: standing at the foot of Mount Sinai, the mountain shrouded in a thick cloud, and hearing the very voice of God. As we find in Exodus 24:18, Moses entered the cloud and was with God for forty days and nights. This isn't just about receiving instructions; it's about a profound, personal encounter with the divine.
"And He placed in his hand the commandment, the Torah of life and understanding; to teach Yaaqov His laws, and His statues and ordinances to Israel." The Torah, the Law, the very essence of Jewish life, placed directly into Moses's hand. This wasn't just a set of rules; it was a "Torah of life and understanding," a guide to living a meaningful, purposeful life, a gift to be shared with Yaaqov (Jacob), a symbolic name for the entire Israelite people.
But Moses wasn't alone in his divinely appointed role.
"And He raised Aharon, he the tribe of Levi, to holiness, and He placed him as an eternal law." Now we turn to Aaron, Moses's brother, elevated to the priesthood, a lineage blessed for generations. The text emphasizes his holiness, his separation for a sacred purpose. As Numbers 25:13 states, Aaron and his descendants received a "covenant of perpetual priesthood".
So, what does all this mean for us?
These verses from Ben Sira aren't just ancient history. They're a reminder that we all have the potential to be "chosen" in our own way. Not necessarily to lead a nation or receive divine commandments, but to live with faithfulness and humility, to listen for the still, small voice within, and to strive to embody the principles of the Torah in our daily lives. To find our own "heights" where we are strengthened. Perhaps that’s the real message: not that only a select few are capable of greatness, but that greatness lies in the choices we make every day to live with purpose and integrity.