It seemed hopeless. So, what turned the tide? What was the secret ingredient that finally led to their redemption?
The Book of Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers a fascinating perspective. It asks, what exactly prompted God to finally free the Israelites?
The answer, surprisingly, isn't what you might expect. It wasn't just God's inherent compassion or the people's suffering alone. Instead, Shemot Rabbah 15 suggests something more nuanced: the merit of Moses and Aaron.
"This month shall be for you" the text begins, referencing Exodus 12:2, and connects it to a verse from Zechariah (4:14): "These are the two anointed ones, who stand by the Lord of all the land."
Rabbi Levi, a prominent voice in the Talmud, explains that God was actively searching for a reason, any reason, to redeem Israel. He was looking for a merit, a zechut, that would justify the divine intervention. But He couldn't find one – until He discovered the combined merit of Moses and Aaron. Their righteousness, their dedication, their very presence, tipped the scales.
Think about that for a moment. God, in this interpretation, isn’t acting arbitrarily. He's seeking a justification, a hook upon which to hang the act of redemption. And He finds it in the actions and character of two individuals.
The text then offers a parable: a king wants to marry a woman, but she is desperately poor. All she possesses are two nose rings. And yet, those humble adornments are enough for the king. They represent something of value, something worthy.
Similarly, the merit of Moses and Aaron, the "two anointed ones" (benei yitzhar), was enough for God. It was the "nose rings" that allowed Him to proceed with the "marriage," the covenant, the redemption of Israel. As it says in Exodus 6:13: “The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron.”
So, what does this all mean for us? It suggests that even in the darkest of times, individual actions matter. That even when a situation seems irredeemable, the righteousness and dedication of a few can pave the way for change. It reminds us that our choices, our efforts, our very being, can contribute to something larger than ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, they can even tip the scales of redemption.
Could your actions, your zechut, be the thing the world is waiting for?