The verse we're looking at is Exodus 12:21: “Moses called all the elders of Israel, and said to them: Draw, and take for yourselves lambs for your families, and slaughter the paschal offering.” But the Midrash, specifically Shemot Rabbah 16, doesn't just read it at face value. It asks: why the elders? Why were they the ones called upon to lead the people in this pivotal moment, the very first Passover sacrifice?
The answer, according to the Midrash, lies in their earlier faith. Think back to when Moses first encountered God at the burning bush. God instructed him, "Go, and gather the elders of Israel" (Exodus 3:16). And what did Moses do? He and Aaron did exactly that: "Moses and Aaron went and gathered all the elders of the children of Israel" (Exodus 4:29). And crucially, "the people believed" (Exodus 4:31).
But the Midrash points out something deeper. It wasn't just that the people believed, but that the elders were the crucial link. If they hadn't accepted Moses's message, would the rest of Israel have followed? The text suggests, probably not. The elders, with their wisdom and experience – as the verse from Job 12:12 says, "With the aged is wisdom and with the length of days understanding" – they were the gatekeepers of belief.
God, blessed be He, recognized this. He acknowledged that the elders were instrumental in the Israelites believing in Him. As Shemot Rabbah puts it, He said, "I will repay the elders for causing Israel to believe in My name." He understood that their acceptance paved the way for the entire nation to embrace the divine message.
Therefore, God decided to honor them. The redemption of Israel, the very first Pesach, would be enacted through them. They would be the ones to oversee the slaughter of the paschal offering, the symbol of their freedom. "Moses called all the elders of Israel," the verse repeats, emphasizing their central role.
So, what’s the takeaway? It’s a powerful reminder that leadership isn't just about holding a position, but about earning trust and inspiring belief. The elders of Israel weren’t just old; they were wise, respected, and their faith acted as a catalyst for an entire nation's liberation. Their story, as told in Shemot Rabbah, reminds us that true leadership often lies in the quiet, unwavering faith that inspires others to believe, even in the face of the impossible.