Sounds epic, right? But Moses wasn't so sure.
He argued. He pleaded. According to Legends of the Jews, compiled by Louis Ginzberg, Moses didn't just meekly accept his divine mission. He stood his ground.
One of Moses' arguments is particularly fascinating. He pointed out that a grandchild is considered a closer relative than a nephew. Yet, when Lot, Abraham's nephew, was captured, God sent angels to rescue him. So why, Moses wondered, when the lives of "sixty myriads" – hundreds of thousands – of Abraham's direct descendants were at stake, was he being sent instead of angels?
It's a powerful question, isn't it? Moses even used the example of Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman. When she was in distress, God sent five angels to help her. And now, for the descendants of Sarah, he was sending… Moses.
"O Lord," Moses implored, "send, I pray Thee, by the hand of him whom Thou wilt send in days to come." He was essentially asking God to send someone else, someone better equipped for the job. He was asking for the future redeemer.
God's response is equally intriguing. He clarified, "I said not that I would send thee to Israel, but to Pharaoh." Moses' immediate task was to confront the Egyptian ruler, not to lead the Israelites directly just yet.
And then comes the kicker: God says that the one Moses referred to—the future redeemer—will be sent to Israel at the end of days. "Elijah will appear to them before the great and terrible day."
So, Moses' plea wasn't entirely dismissed. It was acknowledged and connected to a future promise. The idea of a future redeemer, hinted at in this exchange, becomes a crucial part of Jewish eschatology, the study of the end times.
What does this tell us? Perhaps it's about understanding that even the greatest leaders have doubts and anxieties. Maybe it's about the enduring hope for a future redeemer, a figure who will bring ultimate salvation. Or maybe it's simply a reminder that even in the face of daunting tasks, we are part of a larger story, a story that extends beyond our immediate challenges and into the promise of a brighter future.