We find Moses in a rather… argumentative mood.
It all starts when Moses witnesses God writing the attribute of "long-suffering" – in Hebrew, erekh apayim – into the Torah. Now, erekh apayim literally means "slow to anger," and it speaks to God's patience. Moses, ever the inquisitive one, asks God, "Does this mean you're patient with the righteous?"
God's response? "Not only the righteous, but even with sinners am I long-suffering."
Whoa. Now, Moses isn't too happy about this. He basically throws his hands up and says, "What?! Let the sinners perish!" A bit harsh, right?
God, in His infinite wisdom, doesn’t respond immediately. The moment passes.
Then comes the infamous episode of the Golden Calf. The Israelites have gravely sinned, and Moses finds himself pleading with God for mercy. He's begging God to forgive the people. And what does God say?
This is where it gets interesting.
God essentially throws Moses' earlier words right back at him. "You yourself advised Me to have no patience with sinners, to destroy them!" Ouch. Talk about a cosmic "I told you so!"
But Moses, ever resourceful, doesn't back down. He reminds God of His own words, the very attribute He inscribed in the Torah: "Yea," Moses says, "but Thou didst declare that Thou art long-suffering with sinners also, let now the patience of the Lord be great as Thou has spoken."
In other words, Moses is holding God to His own standard, reminding Him of His promise of erekh apayim. "You said you are slow to anger, so be slow to anger now!"
It's a powerful moment. It highlights not only God's attributes, but also the complex relationship between God and Moses. It's a relationship built on respect, on argument, and ultimately, on a shared commitment to justice and mercy.
What does this story tell us? Perhaps that even our most well-intentioned advice can have unintended consequences. Or maybe it's a reminder that God's attributes are not just abstract concepts, but rather a living, breathing promise. And sometimes, we need to remind even God of His own promises.