It wasn't about personal glory, or even about his own accomplishments. No, his thoughts were consumed by the future of the community he had shepherded for so long. He was thinking about who would lead them next.
As his end drew near, Moses implored God, not for himself, but for a "good and worthy leader" for the Israelites. He knew the weight of that responsibility firsthand. According to Legends of the Jews, Ginzberg retells how Moses pleaded with God, "Let not my successor share my fate."
Think about that for a moment. Moses, despite his pivotal role in leading the Israelites, was denied entry into the Promised Land. Can you imagine the pain of that? He didn't want that fate for his successor. He asked God, "Mayest Thou then deal differently with my successor than Thou hast dealt with me, and permit him not only to lead the people in the desert, but to take them into the promised land."
But Moses wasn't just concerned with where they were led, but how. He envisioned a leader "which may go out before them," someone who wouldn’t just send the troops to battle from a safe distance, as was the custom of heathen kings. This leader would be on the front lines, leading Israel into war personally. It's a fascinating contrast, isn’t it, between the traditional image of a king and the kind of leader Moses was advocating for.
And it didn't stop there. Moses also prayed that this leader would be one "which may come in before them;" that he would be granted the blessing of seeing just as many people returning from war as went into it. A leader concerned not just with victory, but with the well-being and safety of his people.
Moses continued his impassioned plea, "O Lord of the world! Thou hast led Israel out of Egypt, not to punish them for their sins, but to forgive them, and Thou hast not led them out of Egypt that they may be without leaders, but that they may indeed have leaders. I insist, therefore, that Thou shouldst tell me whether or not Thou wilt grant them a leader." It's a powerful and direct request, born of deep responsibility and love for his people.
What does this tell us about leadership? About legacy? Moses, at the very end, wasn't concerned with his own place in history, but with ensuring the continuity and well-being of his people. It's a powerful reminder that true leadership is about service, sacrifice, and ensuring a brighter future for those who come after us.