When Moses Begged God to Reveal His Merciful Ways

Midrash Aggadah Midrash Tehillim 25:6 View source
Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team ·

Even Moses, the great lawgiver himself, felt that way.

In Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, we find a fascinating glimpse into Moses's burning desire to understand God's ways. It all starts with the verse, "Make known to me Your ways, O Lord." (Psalm 25:4).

Rabbi Berachiah, quoting Rabbi Yochanan, paints a beautiful analogy. Imagine a skilled physician teaching his apprentice everything he knows... except for one particular wound. The physician then turns to his student and says, "You've mastered so much. Teach me how to heal this." That’s kind of what's going on here. Moses, despite his incredible relationship with God, is essentially asking, "Show me how You run the universe." As it says, "He made known His ways to Moses" (Psalms 103:7) and "Show me Your glory" (Exodus 33:18), meaning the way that You conduct the world.

But it's not that simple, is it? As Rabbi Zeira says in the name of Resh Lakish, God basically tells Moses, "You can't fully grasp it." It's like trying to fit the ocean into a teacup.

The midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) then takes an interesting turn. Moses reminds God of past instances where he felt appeased – when the Israelites threatened to stone him, and when he argued with them. "And Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp" (Exodus 33:7). This teaches us, says Rabbi Yehuda, that seeking out an elder, like Moses, is akin to seeking the Divine Presence itself! Imagine that level of respect and reverence.

But God also points out that Moses has some strong personalities around him. "You have two hot-headed individuals in your midst, the teacher and the disciple." Maybe that's why things are feeling so intense. And so, God allows Moses to bring the tent back into the camp, signifying a reconciliation. Rabbi Acha then seizes the opportunity to pray for God to reveal His ways to Israel. After all, "The Rock!—His work is perfect" (Deuteronomy 32:4).

The midrash then draws a parallel between Moses and Samuel the Ramathite. (Jeremiah 15:1) says, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me..." highlighting their equal stature. The text emphasizes the similarities: both were Levites, both sang songs, both led Israel, both reigned for forty years, both waged wars, and so on. The comparison underscores the idea that even after Moses, there were individuals who possessed a deep connection with the Divine.

Finally, Moses asks God to reveal how He deals with the nations of the world. He yearns to understand the grand cosmic plan. And the text concludes with a reflection on the concept of waiting for God, even "all day long." Since this world is a day for the nations of the world and a night for Israel, therefore, I waited for You all day long.

So, what can we take away from this? Maybe it's that the quest for understanding God's ways is a lifelong journey, one that even the greatest figures in our tradition wrestled with. It's a reminder that humility, seeking wisdom from elders, and persistent prayer are all vital steps on that path. And perhaps, just perhaps, a little patience too. After all, some mysteries are meant to unfold over time.

Themes

Heaven Moses King David Torah Prophecy Holy Land Egypt

Continue Reading

Midrash Aggadah The Woman of Valor and the Secrets of Creation It's more than just a nice sentiment; it's a springboard for some incredible midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary... Midrash Aggadah Samuel — Kingdom of David Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, dives deep into that question. And it ... Midrash Aggadah Blessing of Levi The Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, offers a fascinating glimpse into this v... Midrash Aggadah How Near Is God When We Call Upon Him Midrash, the art of interpreting scripture by filling in the gaps, expanding on hints, and drawing out deeper meanings, ... Midrash Aggadah The Righteous Cry That Pierced Through Heaven A discussion of "rana," which can be translated as a cry or supplication. But it's not just any cry; it's a cry of right... Midrash Aggadah Why Praising God Is the Heart of Jewish Tradition Yet, praise is central to Jewish tradition. Why? to a fascinating passage from Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homilet... Midrash Aggadah You Have Shown Your People a Hard Time The ancient rabbis grappled with this too. They looked at Psalm 61, and from it, they wove a powerful message about suff... Midrash Aggadah When the Sea Fled and the Mountains Trembled That’s kind of the feeling behind Psalm 114, and the Midrash Tehillim, an ancient collection of rabbinic teachings on th... Midrash Aggadah Precious — Abraham at the Dawn of Creation Midrash Tehillim, a collection of homiletic interpretations on the Book of Psalms, gives us a list of ten things that ar...