Psalm 106:23 states, "Therefore He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn back His wrath, lest He destroy them." It’s a verse that hints at incredible danger, and even more incredible intervention. But how did Moses, a single man, manage to change God's mind?
Rabbi Barachia, citing Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, offers a parable. Imagine a prosecutor, filled with accusations against the king’s son. Just as the king is about to act, a guard steps forward, blocking the prosecutor. The prosecutor, seeing this, backs down. That guard, in this story, is Moses. He steps into the breach, shielding the Israelites from the full force of God's anger.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman provides another image. This time, a king is furious with his son. He's about to sign a decree that would have terrible consequences. But a loyal guard snatches the document from his hand, preventing the king from acting on his rage. The act of preventing harm. It’s a powerful idea, isn't it? That even in the face of divine wrath, intercession is possible.
But what exactly had the Israelites done to warrant such a severe response? According to Rav Huna, also citing Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman, the incident of Baal Peor was the breaking point. Baal Peor, a Moabite deity, was associated with licentious and idolatrous practices. The Israelites' involvement was a profound betrayal. We read, "And he lifted up his hand against them," referring to the divine judgment they faced. And what was the cause? “Because they rebelled against Him and spoke against Him.”
Rabbi Yudan even invokes an oath, swearing in the name of Moses himself. He alludes to Daniel 12:7, "And he lifted up his right and his left hand to heaven," connecting Moses's intercession with a divine oath. It underscores the gravity of the situation and the immense effort required to avert disaster.
Rabbi Yudan, son of Rabbi Yudan, adds a crucial element: the power of speech. Quoting Leviticus 5:4, "If a person swears to express with his lips…," he suggests that rebellious and blasphemous speech contributed to the crisis. Our words, it seems, have the power to invite blessing or destruction.
What's so striking about these interpretations in Midrash Tehillim? They paint a picture of a God who, while capable of intense anger, is also open to persuasion, to the possibility of mercy. And they highlight the role of a leader, like Moses, who is willing to stand in the gap, to advocate for his people even when they seem undeserving. It reminds us that even when we feel we've reached the point of no return, intercession, repentance, and perhaps most importantly, a change in our words and actions, can alter the course of events. Even divine ones.