Moses certainly did.
In the Book of Numbers – Bamidbar in Hebrew – we find him at a breaking point. The Israelites are complaining, constantly. He’s exhausted. He cries out to God, basically saying, "I can't do this alone!" In Deuteronomy (Devarim) 1:12, he puts it even more bluntly: "How can I bear alone your contentiousness, your heresy, and your caviling?" Can you imagine?
So, what does God do? God responds with a promise, a solution, and a bit of reassurance. Our text, from Sifrei Bamidbar 93, dives into the heart of this moment. Let's unpack it.
The verse in Numbers 11:17 states, "And I will go down (veyaradeti)." Now, the Sifrei Bamidbar points out that this is one of ten instances of God "going down" – yeridoth – mentioned in the Torah. What does it mean that God "goes down?" It's not a literal descent, of course. It signifies God's presence becoming more accessible, more immediate, in the face of human need.
The verse continues, "and I will speak with you." The Sifrei emphasizes: "with you, but not with them." This highlights the special relationship between God and Moses, the leader chosen to intercede and guide. But the real kicker comes next: "And I shall increase from the spirit which is upon you, and I will place it upon them."
Here's where things get really interesting. What does it mean to "increase from the spirit?" Was Moses going to somehow lose something by sharing his wisdom and prophetic ability?
The Sifrei Bamidbar offers a beautiful analogy: Moses was "like a lamp placed upon a menorah, from which many lamps are lighted without the first losing any of its light." A single flame, used to ignite countless others, doesn't diminish in the process. Its essence remains whole, undiminished.
That's the key. Moses's wisdom, his connection to the Divine, wasn’t a finite resource. Sharing it didn't lessen him; it amplified the light in the world. Isn't that a powerful image?
This sharing of the spirit leads to the final piece of the puzzle: "and they will bear with you." God tells Moses that these newly endowed individuals will help him carry the burden. Because, as Moses himself lamented, he couldn't handle the constant complaints and challenges alone. God is essentially saying, "I’m giving you help. You're not meant to do this by yourself."
So, what’s the takeaway here? It's not just about Moses, is it? It's about leadership, about community, and about the boundless nature of wisdom and spirit. We often feel like we have to do everything ourselves. We hoard our knowledge, fearing that sharing it will somehow diminish us.
But this passage from Sifrei Bamidbar challenges that notion. It suggests that true leadership lies in empowering others, in igniting their own inner light. And that, by sharing our burdens and our gifts, we not only alleviate our own stress but also create a brighter, more resilient world.
Maybe, just maybe, that’s a lesson we can all take to heart. What burdens are you carrying that could be shared? What light within you is waiting to be kindled in others?