Turns out, the Torah might have some surprising advice for us, hidden in the very last words Moses ever spoke to the Israelites.
It’s in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 33:2, part of Moses' final blessing to the tribes. The verse says, "The L-rd came from Sinai, and He shone forth from Seir to them." Now, at first glance, this might seem like a straightforward recounting of God's presence. But according to Sifrei Devarim 343, there's a deeper message here, a lesson in how to approach the Divine—and maybe even how to approach anyone you need to ask for something!
The text points out that Moses doesn't launch directly into the needs of the Israelites. He begins with praise of God. Why?
The Sifrei Devarim uses a brilliant analogy to explain. Imagine you've hired an advocate to speak on your behalf. What's the first thing a smart advocate would do? They wouldn't immediately launch into your list of demands! Instead, they’d begin by praising the king. "How exalted is our king!" they’d exclaim. "How exalted is our master! The sun has shone upon us! The moon has shone upon us!" Getting everyone on board with acknowledging the king’s greatness. Only then, after setting the stage with proper respect and admiration, would they present your case. And even then, they'd conclude by circling back to the king's praise. It's a beautiful structure, isn't it?
Moses, our teacher, does the same thing. He doesn't just barge in with the Israelites' needs. First, he acknowledges God's presence and glory: "The L-rd came from Sinai, and He shone forth from Seir." Only after this preamble does he get to the heart of the matter, proclaiming in verse 5, "And He was a King in Yeshurun (Israel)." Yeshurun is a poetic name for Israel, by the way, emphasizing their righteousness. And then, at the very end, he concludes with more praise: "There is none like the Almighty, Yeshurun" (Deuteronomy 33:26).
So what does this tell us? It suggests that when we approach God, or anyone in a position of authority or power, we should begin by acknowledging their greatness, their positive attributes. It's not about being manipulative, but about recognizing the good that already exists. It's about showing respect and appreciation before presenting our needs.
Think about it in your own life. When you need to ask a favor, do you lead with the request, or do you first acknowledge the other person's qualities, their contributions, their inherent worth?
Maybe Moses, in his final moments, was teaching us not just about prayer, but about the very nature of human interaction. Maybe he was showing us that by starting with praise, we not only honor the Divine, but also open the door to connection, understanding, and ultimately, to having our needs met. Food for thought, right?