That’s a glimpse into what Moses experienced on his journey to receive the Torah.
According to Legends of the Jews by Ginzberg, the encounter with the angel Sandalphon was so intense that Moses nearly lost his balance and fell out of the very cloud he was traversing! We’re not talking about a little stumble here. This was a brush with the divine of such magnitude it threatened to unmake him.
The text paints a vivid picture. Moses, overwhelmed by what he saw, begged God for mercy, crying out in desperation. Can you imagine the scene? The leader of the Israelites, the man who parted the Red Sea, reduced to tears before the sheer power of the celestial realm. It's a reminder that even the greatest among us are vulnerable when confronted with the truly awesome.
And what was God’s response? In His "bountiful love of Israel," God Himself, the text tells us, descended from His Throne of Glory and stood before Moses. He shielded Moses from the overwhelming flames of Sandalphon. Think about the implications of that image for a moment. God’s personal intervention, a testament to His commitment to His people, and to Moses.
But the journey wasn’t over yet. After passing Sandalphon, Moses had to cross Rigyon, a stream of fire.
Rigyon isn't just any fire; it’s fire that burns even the angels! Ginzberg tells us that the angels dip into these coals every morning. They are burned and then reborn. This stream, we learn, originates beneath the Throne of Glory, formed from the perspiration of the holy Hayyot– the living creatures, who exude fire from their fear of God. The image is staggering. Imagine the intensity of that heat, the palpable sense of divine power.
Again, divine intervention saves Moses. God quickly drew him across Rigyon, protecting him from harm.
What are we to make of this? It's more than just a thrilling adventure story. It’s a profound meditation on divine protection, on the overwhelming power of the divine, and on the vulnerability even the most righteous individuals experience on their spiritual journeys. Moses, despite his immense stature, needed God’s direct intervention. And that, perhaps, is a lesson for us all. Even when facing our own metaphorical Sandalphon and Rigyon, we are not alone.