It wasn't just about leading the Israelites out of Egypt. According to the Legends of the Jews, as retold by Louis Ginzberg, Moses harbored three deep desires.
First, he yearned for the Shekhinah to dwell with Israel. The Shekhinah, that radiant divine presence, a tangible connection between God and His people. Second, he wished the Shekhinah would only dwell with Israel. A bit exclusive, perhaps, but a testament to his unwavering devotion.
And the third wish? Ah, the third wish is the real head-scratcher. Moses longed to understand God's ways. Specifically, why good people suffer, why bad people prosper, and all the messy in-betweens. Why does God ordain both good and evil? Why the seemingly random distribution of joy and sorrow? This is a question that has plagued humanity for millennia, hasn't it?
The story goes that Moses dared to voice these desires during a moment of God's wrath. Bold move, Moses! God, in His infinite patience, told Moses to wait until His anger subsided. And when it did, God granted the first two wishes completely. Israel would be blessed with the Shekhinah.
But the third wish? That was only partially granted.
Instead of a direct answer, God showed Moses something extraordinary: vast treasure troves, each filled with rewards for the righteous. Imagine that! God meticulously explained each one: "This one is for those who give tzedakah (charity)," God might have said. "That one is for those who raise orphans." Each treasure was specifically designated for a particular good deed. A cosmic system of merit and reward.
Then, they came to a treasure trove unlike any other. It was gigantic, dwarfing all the rest. Moses, naturally curious, asked, "For whom is this treasure?"
And God's answer? It’s breathtaking.
"Out of the treasures that I have shown thee," God explained, "I give rewards to those who have deserved them by their deeds; but out of this treasure do I give to those who are not deserving, for I am gracious to those also who may lay no claim to My graciousness, and I am bountiful to those who are not deserving of My bounty."
Wow.
This treasure isn't for those who earned it. It's for those who didn't. It's a testament to God's unearned grace, His boundless mercy. It speaks to a divine generosity that extends beyond our understanding of fairness or justice.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Is there a comfort in knowing that even when we fall short, when we don't deserve it, there’s still a place for grace? Perhaps that's the part of God's ways Moses was meant to understand. Not the neat and tidy explanations, but the boundless, often inexplicable, wellspring of divine compassion.