Jewish tradition wrestles with this question constantly, and few stories illustrate the tension better than the legendary origins of MOSES.
Imagine this: the 21st of Nisan. A seemingly ordinary day. But according to Legends of the Jews, this is no mere coincidence. This is the very day, years later, that the Israelites, led by MOSES himself, would sing their joyous song of deliverance after crossing the Red Sea!
Now, picture the angels in the heavenly court. They see the infant MOSES, abandoned to the Nile, and they are aghast. "Lord of the Universe," they cry out, as Ginzberg retells in Legends of the Jews, "Will the one destined to sing praises to You on this very day, thanking You for saving him and his people from the sea...will he now drown in that same sea?!"
It's a powerful image, isn't it? The sheer irony of it all. Destined for greatness, yet seemingly doomed to a watery grave.
But what does GOD say? Does HE intervene directly?
Here's where it gets really interesting. GOD responds, and it's not quite what you might expect. "You know well that I see all things," HE says. "The contriving of man can do naught to change what hath been resolved in My counsel." In other words, GOD acknowledges the predetermined nature of things...to a point.
But then HE adds a crucial twist. "Those do not attain their end who use cunning and malice to secure their own safety, and endeavor to bring ruin upon their fellow-men. But he who trusts Me in his peril will be conveyed from profoundest distress to unlooked-for happiness."
Think about that for a moment. It's not just about predetermination. It's about the intentions behind our actions. According to this legend, those who scheme and plot for their own selfish gain will ultimately fail. But those who place their trust in GOD, even in the face of immense danger, will find a path to salvation. It is interesting to note that the story highlights the contriving of man, seemingly a direct reference to the decree of Pharoah and his advisors to eliminate the Israelite baby boys.
The story concludes with a promise, a declaration of divine power: "Thus My omnipotence will reveal itself in the fortunes of this babe." The omnipotence of GOD will be revealed in the story of this baby, MOSES.
So, what are we to make of all this? Is it all predetermined, or do we have free will? Perhaps the answer lies in the interplay between the two. GOD may have a plan, but our actions, our intentions, determine whether we align ourselves with that plan or fight against it. And as the story of MOSES shows us, trust and faith can be the most powerful forces of all.