That ache, that persistent search – it echoes through the ages, even finding its way into the ancient texts.
We turn to Shir HaShirim Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs, that most beautiful and enigmatic book of the Bible. It’s not just about romantic love; it’s about the love between God and Israel, and how that love manifests in our history. And sometimes, that love story is full of longing and searching.
The verse we're focusing on today, "On my bed at nights I sought the one my soul loves; I sought him, but did not find him" (Song of Songs 3:1), takes on a whole new dimension when seen through the lens of the Exodus story. According to Shir HaShirim Rabbah, "On my bed at nights" alludes to the night of the Exodus from Egypt. The "one whom my soul loves"? That's none other than Moses himself.
But wait – she sought him, but did not find him? Why? The text explains that this refers to the three months Moses spent back in Midian after his initial encounter with God at the burning bush. Think about it: Moses, chosen to be the leader, the redeemer, disappears for a time. The people are waiting, yearning, but he's nowhere to be found. It’s a moment of suspended hope, a test of faith, perhaps.
The text continues with the next verse: "I will rise now and go about the city, through the streets and the squares; I will seek the one my soul loves.’ I sought him, but I did not find him." (Song of Songs 3:2). The Rabbah tells us that the "city, streets, and squares" are metaphors for the cities and provinces. The search intensifies. Still, "I sought him, but I did not find him." The yearning persists.
What does it mean that Moses, the man destined to lead his people to freedom, was absent during a crucial period? Perhaps it highlights the human element in even the most divinely ordained missions. Moses wasn't a perfect, unwavering figure. He had his own journey to undertake, his own preparations to make. And in his absence, the people were left to grapple with their own faith and their own longing for redemption.
It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? The people of Israel, metaphorically wandering through the streets and squares, searching for their leader, for their hope. It reflects the feeling of being lost, of searching for something essential that seems just beyond our grasp. It mirrors times when we feel distant from God, or from our own sense of purpose.
This passage reminds us that even in the grand narrative of redemption, there are moments of searching, of doubt, of absence. But it also suggests that the search itself is meaningful. The yearning, the persistent pursuit of what we love – that's where growth happens, where faith is tested, and where we ultimately find ourselves ready for the moment of revelation, whenever – and however – it arrives.