That's the situation Moses found himself in, according to some fascinating threads in Jewish legend.
The story goes that even the angels themselves were taken aback. They came to God, saying, "Moses, the familiar of Thine house, is held under restraint!" Imagine their consternation! But God, unwavering, simply replied, "I will espouse his cause." A powerful statement of divine intervention!
But the angels, perhaps with a touch of heavenly practicality, pressed on. "His verdict of death has been pronounced," they said, "yes, they are leading him to execution!" Can you feel the urgency? Yet again, God's response echoed with unshakable resolve: "I will espouse his cause."
Now, picture this scene: Moses, standing on the scaffold. A sword, described as "sharp beyond compare," is raised. Ten times it’s brought down upon his neck, but each time, miraculously, it slips away harmlessly. Why? Because, the story tells us, his neck was as hard as ivory. A truly incredible image!
But the miracle doesn’t end there. This is where things get really interesting. According to the legend, God sends down the angel Michael himself, but not in shining armor, not with trumpets blaring. Instead, Michael appears in the guise of a hangman!
And here’s the twist: the human hangman, the one appointed by Pharaoh to carry out the execution, is supernaturally transformed. He's changed into the form of Moses! This imposter Moses is then killed by the angel Michael, using the very sword intended for the real Moses. Talk about divine deception!
Meanwhile, the real Moses makes his escape. Pharaoh, enraged, orders his troops to pursue him. But God throws up obstacles. Some of the soldiers are struck blind, others rendered dumb. As the text says, the dumb couldn't reveal Moses's location, and the blind, even knowing where he was, couldn't reach him. A classic example of divine protection, wouldn’t you say?
What does this all mean? It's more than just a fantastical tale. It speaks to themes of divine intervention, of God's unwavering protection of those who are righteous, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It is a powerful image of how God will step in on behalf of those who need Him most. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about the unseen forces working in our own lives, perhaps in ways we can't even imagine?