The answer, according to Devarim Rabbah, isn't what you might immediately think. It's not just about Moses being a great prophet; it's about a specific act of kindness and dedication he showed long before the Exodus.
The story unfolds in Egypt, at the cusp of Israel's redemption. While the Israelites were busy gathering silver and gold – as the Torah describes (Exodus 12:35-36) – Moses was on a very different mission. He was desperately searching for the coffin of Joseph. Why? Because Joseph, before his death, had made the children of Israel swear an oath to carry his bones out of Egypt when they finally left (Genesis 50:25). They couldn't just leave without him.
The text tells us that Moses exerted himself for three days and three nights, tirelessly searching the city. Imagine the scene: everyone else is caught up in the excitement of impending freedom and newfound wealth, and there’s Moses, driven by a sense of duty and loyalty to a promise made generations ago.
Exhausted and perhaps disheartened, Moses encountered Segula, who, according to some traditions, is Serah, the daughter of Asher (Sota 13a). She saw his weariness and asked why he was so troubled. He explained his quest to find Joseph's coffin. Segula knew where it was.
She led him to the Nile River. "In this place," she said, "they crafted a coffin weighing five hundred talents, and the magicians and astrologers cast it into the stream. They told Pharaoh that if the Israelites could never find Joseph's bones, they would never be able to leave Egypt." A powerful bit of ancient strategy!
So, Moses stood on the riverbank and addressed Joseph directly. Can you imagine the scene? He called out, "Joseph, you know the oath you administered to Israel: 'God will remember you, and you shall bring up my bones with you' (Genesis 50:25). Accord deference to the God of Israel and do not delay the redemption of Israel. You have good deeds to your credit; ask for mercy before your Creator and rise from the depths!"
Immediately, the coffin began to bubble up from the depths, rising like a piece of wood. Moses lifted it onto his shoulder and carried it, with all of Israel following behind. They were carrying gold and silver, but Moses was carrying Joseph's coffin.
According to Devarim Rabbah, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: "Moses, you say that you performed a minor action; as you live, this kindness that you performed is great, and you did not pay attention to the silver and the gold. I, too, will perform this kindness for you, and I will tend to you."
And that, my friends, is why Moses was granted the unique privilege. It wasn't just about his leadership or his prophetic abilities. It was about his unwavering commitment to a promise, his selflessness in prioritizing a mitzvah, a sacred obligation, over personal gain. He valued honoring the dead and keeping a promise above the lure of riches. His act of chesed, of loving-kindness, mirrored back to him in the ultimate act of divine care. What a powerful testament to the enduring value of loyalty and compassion. It makes you think about the small acts of kindness we perform and how they might resonate far beyond what we imagine.