- Devarim / Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11
- Yeshayahu / Isaiah 40:1-26
- Mordechai / Mark 12:28-34
Devarim {3:23} I begged HaShem (G-d) at that time, saying, {3:24} L-RD HaShem, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand: for what G-D is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to Your works, and according to Your mighty acts? {3:25} Please let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Yarden (Jordan), that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. {3:26} But HaShem was angry with me for your sakes, and didn’t listen to me; and HaShem said to me, Let it suffice you; speak no more to me of this matter. {3:27} Get you up to the top of Pisgah, and lift up your eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes: for you shall not go over this Yarden. {3:28} But charge Yehoshua (Joshua), and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.
At this time in history Moshe (Moses) was one hundred and twenty years old. He was extremely successful in his service towards HaShem and in fact had completed his mission. He had led bnei Yisrael (children of Israel) to the point of entering the land; mission accomplished! This new generation of Israelites were determined in their faith, they were obedient to Torah, they trusted in HaShem and they were ready to take the land. It was not an easy trip for Moshe. He sure had his bad days, and at times it appeared as if he would not make it, at other times it appeared as if the entire bnei Yisrael would not make it, but is that so unusual? We all have our bad days; days we think we too will not make it. I have even had days where I wished those I am caring for would not make it! Have you felt the same on occasion? As the rabbi of a congregation of people with diverse personalities and problems I too have bad days! But in general Moshe was a resounding success! (Hopefully people will be able to say the same about me at the end of my mission). Now it was time for bnei Yisrael to enter the land and we are being told here that HaShem was still angry at Moshe for having disobeyed Him in the presence of the entire kehilat (congregation) of Yisrael. You will remember that Moshe hit the Rock in the wilderness so as to bring forth water, instead of speaking to it as HaShem had instructed him to do. (I discussed the significance of Moshe’s actions in a previous year’s Parsha).
However this is not what struck me about this passage of Scripture in Parsha Vaetchanan. What struck me and caused me to look deeper into what might have been going on here, was Moshe’s reluctance to once again accept HaShem’s directive. It was more the begging and pleading he did, I guess, that got me thinking. Also Moshe is telling us here that it was because HaShem was angry with him that He was not allowing him to enter into the “good land that is beyond the Yarden.” Well first of all HaShem is not an angry G-d that takes vengeance. He has even told us not to let the sun go down on our anger, meaning always reconcile before the sun sets (Efesos / Ephesians 4:26) and as we know HaShem always subjects Himself to His own mitzvoth (commandments). So I could not buy into that excuse given by Moshe. In addition Moshe is saying that HaShem was “angry for your sakes,” in other words Moshe was blaming his shortcomings on bnei Yisrael, instead of where it belonged: on himself. These two statements gave me the impression that Moshe may have gotten a little too comfortable with his position, perhaps even a little too power- greedy and possessive of his position! For those who are shocked by this statement please forgive me for thinking this, I respect Moshe at least as much as you do!
Think about this for a moment! As I said Moshe was one hundred and twenty years old. He had already outlived everyone of his generation. He had successfully led two generations of bnei Yisrael through the wilderness. He had victoriously fought and won every war he led and he was the supreme political power of the nation now for forty years. You would think that he would have been ready to retire by now, but he obviously was not! Also remember how reluctant Moshe was to take the job from HaShem in the first place (Shemot [Exodus] chapters 3 – 4). So does it not make you wonder what might have been going through this man’s mind at this time?
It seems to me if Moshe had his way, he would have chosen to lead bnei Yisrael forever. After all we are told that he was healthy, his eyesight was perfect and that he was full of vigor. You know sometimes we get a little too comfortable in our jobs, especially when we are working for the L-rd. We get so caught up in the good that we are doing that it becomes hard to turn over the reins, hard to release and relinquish the power. Yes it may be hard but it is necessary.
I do not think HaShem was still angry with Moshe; it was just that his job was done, he had reached a ripe old age and it was time for him to pass the baton. In fact his successor had already been chosen: Yehoshua. Moshe, I believe, was not of the same opinion as HaShem. It seems like he was enjoying the power, he was enjoying the position, despite his occasional complaining and the bad times. Sometimes as leaders, even as parents, we do not want to relinquish control, we want to hang on to power as long as we can. However this is not the way it is supposed to be. There comes a time when we must let go and turn over the reins to the next generation.
As good leaders and parents, it is a commandment to be good mentors and raise our replacements. A good leader does not only know how to lead, he also knows when it is time to quit. Thank you Moshe for that lesson!
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