It might seem a little... unflattering at first glance. But as with so many things in our tradition, there's a depth and beauty to be found when we dig a little deeper.
Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of Midrashic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, offers some fascinating insights into this very question. The verse says, "Moses led Israel..." (Exodus 15:22). But the Midrash asks, what kind of leading was this? It answers by quoting Psalms 78:52: "He led His people like sheep."
Like whose sheep, though? The Midrash specifies: like the sheep of Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law. : just as Yitro's sheep went from settled land into the wilderness (Exodus 3:1), so too did Israel journey from Egypt into the desert. "He guided them like a flock in the wilderness" (Psalms 78:52). It's a powerful image of transition and guidance.
And the comparison doesn't stop there. The Midrash continues: Sheep don't live under roofs. Similarly, God led Israel in the wilderness for forty years, providing a different kind of shelter, a divine protection. And we don’t prepare stockpiles for sheep, they graze daily. In the same way, God didn't prepare a stockpile of food for Israel, but rather provided for them daily in the wilderness with the man, as it says: "The people will go out and gather each day’s portion on its day" (Exodus 16:4). It was a lesson in trust, in relying on divine providence.
Here's another fascinating point: even if a sheep damages trees, the owner doesn't usually charge it. The Midrash suggests that similarly, even when Israel sins, God treats them with a certain leniency, like sheep. But wait – does that mean we don't receive reward either, like sheep?
Thankfully, the Midrash doesn't leave us hanging. It quotes Ezekiel 34:31: "Now you are My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are Man." See the nuance? Sheep for punishment, but man for reward! We’re not just sheep. We have the capacity for moral responsibility and therefore, for receiving reward.
But another question arises: are we then destined for slaughter, like sheep? No, says the Midrash, quoting Ezekiel 36:38: "Like consecrated sheep." Just as touching consecrated items incurs liability, so too does harming Israel. As Jeremiah 2:3 states, "Israel is sacred to the Lord, the first of His crop; anyone who devours it will be guilty." We're not just any sheep; we are holy sheep, protected and cherished.
And finally, just as a sheep follows its shepherd, so too did Israel follow Moses. "Draw me, after you we will run" (Song of Songs 1:4). There's a sense of complete trust and obedience in that image. That's why it says, "Moses led Israel from the Red Sea."
But Rabbi Abba bar Kahana offers one last, beautiful interpretation: Moses led them away from the sin of the Red Sea. How? Because once they sang the song of praise after the sea split, that song atoned for their earlier lack of faith at the sea.
So, what does it all mean? This Midrash isn't just about comparing us to animals. It's about highlighting the complexities of our relationship with God. We are both vulnerable and protected, flawed and capable of great holiness. We are sheep, yes, but we are also so much more. It’s a reminder that even when we wander, even when we make mistakes, there's a shepherd guiding us, forgiving us, and leading us towards something greater. It's a beautiful and comforting thought, isn’t it?