That's the situation Moses faced in a powerful story found in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer (chapter 45).
The story opens with a terrifying decree: God, in his anger, sends not one, but five angels to destroy Israel. These aren't your fluffy, winged messengers of good tidings. We're talking about Wrath, Anger, Temper, Destruction, and – perhaps the most chilling of all – Glow of Anger. A veritable apocalyptic task force.
Moses, ever the devoted leader, hears of this impending doom. What does he do? He doesn't panic. He doesn't bargain with God directly (at least, not initially). Instead, he undertakes a truly remarkable act of intercession. He journeys to the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. This isn’t just any cave; it's the burial place of the patriarchs and matriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, and Leah. Moses goes to the ultimate source of ancestral merit. He calls upon the very foundations of the Jewish people, those who made the covenant with God possible. And he does so with a desperate plea: "If ye be of the children of the world to come, stand ye before me in this hour, for behold your children are given over like sheep to the slaughter."
"If ye be of the children of the world to come…" What a poignant phrase! Moses isn't just asking for help; he's appealing to their eternal connection, their vested interest in the survival of their descendants. It’s a powerful reminder that the actions of past generations ripple through time, impacting the present and the future.
And they respond! Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our founding fathers, stand before him, ready to lend their spiritual weight to the situation. Talk about a powerful image!
Now, with the patriarchs at his side, Moses turns to God. He reminds God of the very promise made to these forefathers: "Sovereign of all the worlds! Didst Thou not swear to these (forefathers) thus to increase their seed like the stars of the heaven…" He quotes Exodus 32:13, reminding God of his own oath: "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven."
Moses isn't being disrespectful. He's making a legal argument, a covenantal claim. He's saying, "God, you made a promise. Your very word is on the line here. Remember your commitment to these patriarchs, to the future of their descendants."
What happens next? Well, that's a story for another time (and another chapter of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer!). But this initial scene is so rich with meaning. It speaks to the power of ancestral connection, the importance of remembering our history, and the unwavering faith needed to confront seemingly insurmountable odds.
It also raises a profound question: When faced with overwhelming challenges, where do we turn? Do we, like Moses, seek the wisdom and strength of those who came before us? Do we remember the promises made, the covenants established? Perhaps, in doing so, we can find the strength to face our own "angels of destruction."