<b>And Moses went and returned to Jethro, his father-in-law (Exod. 4:18).</b> Scripture states elsewhere: <i>But he is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth</i> (Job 23:13). R. Pappos explained this verse as follows: Because He is the Unique One in the world, no one can stay His hand. He does whatever He desires, for <i>what His soul desireth, even that He doeth</i>. R. Akiba replied: By your life, Pappos, that is not the correct interpretation of this verse. Pappos then asked: What then is the meaning of <i>He is at one with Himself and who can turn him</i>? He replied: Just as men consult each other on earth, so the heavenly beings consult each other. How do we know that? It is written: <i>The matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth it up over it the lowest of men</i> (Dan. 4:14). In other words, just as men debate a law here on earth, so do those above, and every decision rendered is in accordance with the law, as it is said: <i>Howbeit I will declare unto thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth</i> (ibid. 10:21).
The Holy One, blessed be He, ponders the matter in question and asks: What should the law be? Whereupon they respond: It should be such-and-such. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, decrees, as you may learn from Micaiah: <i>And Micaiah said: “Therefore hear thou the word of the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the hosts of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left hand</i> (I Kings 22:19). But is there actually a left hand on high? No; it means that those on the right (side of God) balance the scale on the side of merit, and those on the left balance the scale on the side of guilt. <i>And the Lord said: “Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?” And one said: On this manner; another said: On that manner</i> (ibid., v. 20). This teaches us that they considered every decision with regard to the law, and the Holy One, blessed be He, discussed the law with them.
What is meant by <i>But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him?</i> (Job 23:13). It means that after the law was determined, the Holy One, blessed be He, would enter the place in which they were not permitted to go and seal the judgment, as it is said: <i>He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him?</i> That is, He knows the opinions of all His creatures, and there are none who could challenge His words.
Another comment on <i>He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him?</i> Because He is the Unique One in the world, no one can challenge His words. You know this from the fact that though Jonah strove to avoid fulfilling his assignment, as it is said: <i>And Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish</i> (Jonah 1:1), the Holy One, blessed be He, said: We see one who is ready to flee but he goes (where he is commanded to go). <i>So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord</i> (ibid. 3:3).
Jeremiah said: <i>I cannot speak, for I am a child</i> (Jer. 1:6). However, the Holy One, blessed be He, replied to him: <i>Say not: “I am a child”; for to whomsoever I shall send thee, thou shalt go</i> (ibid.). He did not leave where he was until he went where he was commanded to go. Hence, <i>And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth</i>. Moses said: <i>Send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send</i> (Exod. 14:13). And he did not depart until he went (where he was commanded to go).
<i>And Moses went, and returned unto Jethro his father-in-law</i>. Prior to this is written: <i>And when the Lord saw that he returned to see … and He said: “Moses, Moses”</i> (Exod. 3:4). R. Abba the son of Kahana said: Everyone whose name is repeated in immediate succession experiences life in both worlds: <i>Noah, Noah</i> (Gen. 6:9); <i>Abraham, Abraham</i> (ibid. 22:11); <i>Jacob, Jacob</i> (ibid. 46:2); <i>Moses, Moses</i> (Exod. 3:4); <i>Samuel, Samuel</i> (I Sam. 3:10); <i>Perez, Perez</i> (Ruth 4:15). However, someone retorted: Is it not also written: <i>These are the generations of Terah, Terah</i> (Gen. 11:27). He replied: Even he had a portion in both worlds, for our patriarch Abraham was not buried until he was assured that his father, Terah, had repented, for it is said: <i>But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace</i> (ibid. 15:15). Abraham said to the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe: Shall I go to my fathers, though I have stored up good deeds in this world? The Holy One, blessed be He, answered: Be assured: Thy father hath repented. Hence his name was repeated.