Every child
will hear, sooner or later, the following from her parent. Child:
Why, Mummy? Mum: Because I said so. ‘Because I said so,’ and its variations
such as because I’m the parent and other possibilities, is the
exasperated parent’s stock answer. The
stock answer to a question whose answer will likely not satisfy the child. Or perhaps, the question which really has no real
answer. Every child has received
this non-answer from a parent at some point.
And every child has experienced the frustration at receiving this
non-answer. But even more, many parents,
in giving such a non-answer, find it personally frustrating that they
were unable for whatever reason to give a ‘proper’ answer to their child. So the non-answer ‘because,’ while sometimes
unavoidable, is essentially unsatisfactory for all parties concerned.
If the answer ‘because’ satisfies
nobody when delivered by a parent to a child, how much more so when it is
offered to an adult as justification for some unwanted outcome. And yet…not everything in life has a
satisfactory explanation. I think that
every adult reading this, knows this in their heart of hearts even though we
rebel against the decree when it arrives.
I’ve always put Hashem’s decree
concerning Moses in this category. That
is, the decree delivered in this week’s Torah reading, Chukat. The decree is that Moses will not live to
see the people Israel settle in the Land of Israel, the Promised Land.
Let’s examine the reasons why Moses should be allowed the honour
of leading the people into the land.
Perhaps it’s simply self-evident.
He agreed, even though he believed himself not up to the task, to return
to Egypt to confront Pharaoh and convey Hashem’s wishes that the Israelites be
let go from their servitude. He faced a
murder charge in doing so. Then he stood
up to Pharaoh repeatedly, at considerable peril to himself, trusting that
Hashem would protect him. Then he led
the often-ungrateful people Israel to freedom and in the desert, advocating for
them from time to time when Hashem was ready to call it a night and go looking
for another people. Every step of the
way, Moses proved himself a patient, long-suffering leader committed to the
well-being of his people. Sometimes, beyond
all reason.
And now, Moses is being told that he will die in the desert whilst the people
cross over into the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua bin Nun. And why?
Drumroll, please…because he struck the rock instead of raising his staff
and asking Hashem to bring forth water. Ya
know, for a guy who has been through as much as Moses, or so long, to lose his
temper in that way…that seems like a fairly minor offence, not one that should
keep him from fulfilling his dream of leading the people into the Land of
Israel. This decree against Mosheh
Rabbeinu, seems, G-d forgive me, like an overly harsh decree.
Or is it? Moses is tired,
and his losing his temper shows clearly that he’s tired and getting quite fed
up with this people. He’s 120 years old,
after all. The closing verses of the
Torah declare, His eye had not dimmed, and his vigour had not diminished. (Deuteronomy 34:7) Nevertheless, his growing testiness at times
clearly shows that he needs a rest from his duties. How can such a towering personality step down
and allow someone else to lead the people?
When a general retires from the army, he is well advised to get as far
away from the service as possible. To
take a position in business or industry.
Or politics. But not hang around the
military. If he’s smart, he gets as far
away as possible except for ceremonial occasions. Because when you’ve been the leader it is
difficult at best to step down when you haven’t stepped away. If so with a mere general, how much more so
with Moses, the chiefest prophet of all?
In this context, it is possible to look at Hashem’s decree against
Moses, like a child’s question for which there is not acceptable answer. So the parent answers, Because. Why can’t Moses lead the people into the
Promised Land? Because he hit the
rock. Or, to put it differently, Because. For Moses, as for any leader in such a
situation, there really isn’t a good, reasonable, and acceptable answer.
And yet…how does Moses respond? At
the end of Deuteronomy, as his decree is about to come to fruition, he blesses
each one of the tribes. These tribes,
this lot which has so often rebelled against his leadership, it would seem
perfectly reasonable to wave off and wash one’s hands of them. But Moses instead blesses each one of them,
before ascending Mt Nebo to catch a glimpse of the land that he will not be
allowed to enter.
Would that each one of us have the dignity and grace of Moses. To accept even an evil decree, and have the
class to bless those who perhaps should be paying the price we must. That’s a sign of the greatness of Moses. We already know that he is Ish HaElohim, a
man of G-d. We know that he’s brilliant
and committed to the well-being of Israel. And now we know that he is gracious enough to
accept his lot even when it seems so unfair as surely it is. Let’s learn from his example and learn to
accept with grace even the unwanted decrees that come our way. To see the good in them. To help those who must go on, to do so with
our blessing. Difficult, but look at the
example we have! Shabbat shalom.
