Let’s talk about Moses.

We all know Moses. The guy who led the Israelites out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, received the Torah on Mount Sinai. A towering figure of faith and leadership. But even Moses had his moments of doubt, his internal struggles. And sometimes, those struggles led him to…well, let's just say improvise.

Our story comes from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating early collection of biblical stories and expansions. It's a treasure trove of details that fill in the gaps in the biblical narrative and give us insight into how the rabbis of old understood these events.

The scene: the Israelites are camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, eagerly awaiting the revelation of the Torah. God has commanded them to consecrate themselves, to prepare themselves spiritually and physically for this momentous event. This includes abstaining from marital relations.

But Moses? He’s worried. He thinks, "What if some of the men have already been with their wives? They might be ritually impure and therefore unable to receive the Torah!" The stakes, in Moses’ mind, are incredibly high. He can't bear the thought of anyone being excluded from this sacred experience.

So, what does he do? He adds a day to the period of abstinence! On his own authority. He’s changing God’s instructions. He's taking matters into his own hands, driven by his deep concern for his people. He wants to ensure that everyone is ready, that no one is left behind.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute! Isn’t that…wrong? Can Moses just change God’s rules?"

That’s exactly what Moses is wrestling with, too.

And what's God's reaction? Does God get angry? Does God rebuke Moses for his audacity?

Quite the opposite. God says to him, "Moses! How many souls of the children of men would have come forth from Israel in that night? What thou hast done has been (rightly) accomplished."

The text tells us God approved of Moses' action.

In other words, God acknowledges Moses' good intentions and the potential consequences of his actions. Moses, in his compassion, prioritized the spiritual well-being of his people. He took a risk, he acted decisively, and God recognized the merit in his actions.

What does this story tell us? Perhaps it's a reminder that sometimes, the most righteous path isn't always the most obvious one. Sometimes, compassion and empathy require us to bend the rules, to take a leap of faith, to trust our own judgment. It shows us that even our greatest leaders are human, grappling with difficult choices and striving to do what's best for their people. And sometimes, just sometimes, that's enough. Even God recognizes that.