It's a monumental task, right? Well, the angels apparently had some thoughts.
The story goes that they were a little… skeptical. As we find in Legends of the Jews, a monumental compilation of Jewish folklore by Rabbi Louis Ginzberg, the angels turned to God, their celestial eyebrows raised. "How is it," they asked, "that Thou givest Moses permission to write, so that he may write whatever he will, and say to Israel, 'I gave you the Torah, I myself wrote it, and then gave it to you?'"
It’s a pretty bold question, isn’t it? They’re essentially asking: "Can we really trust Moses with this incredible responsibility? Won't he be tempted to, shall we say, embellish a little?"
Think about it from their perspective. These are beings of pure spirit, inhabiting the divine realm. The idea that a human, even one as righteous as Moses, could be entrusted with such a task – to literally write down the word of God – must have seemed a bit… unsettling. Were they worried about the potential for human error? Or perhaps the potential for human ego to creep in?
But God, in His infinite wisdom, had a ready answer. "Far be it from Moses to do such a thing," He declared. "He is a faithful servant!"
There’s so much packed into that simple statement. It's a powerful affirmation of Moses’ integrity, his humility, and his unwavering devotion to God's will. God isn't just saying that Moses won't mess it up; He’s saying that it’s fundamentally against Moses’ very nature to do so. He is a ne’eman, a trustworthy and loyal servant.
This little anecdote, tucked away in the vastness of Jewish lore, offers a fascinating glimpse into the relationship between the divine and the human, and the immense trust placed in Moses. It reminds us that even the angels, beings of light and knowledge, can have their doubts. And it highlights the extraordinary faith that God has in humanity, and in those chosen to carry out His will.
What does it say about our role in interpreting sacred texts? Does the angels' concern make us think twice about how we understand and transmit Torah today? Food for thought, indeed.