What’s the Point?

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?  Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”  Exodus 5:22-23  NIV

You sent me – In a previous investigation of these verses, we noted that Moses voices a familiar emotional response.  Why do things often get worse when we try to follow God’s directive?  A few experiences like this and we’re likely to want to stay below the radar.  What we learned from that investigation is that we just don’t know the big picture or how these sorts of “set backs” really fulfill a greater goal.  God knows, but we’re limited by our temporal frame and epistemological blindness.  We have trust—and that’s about all we have.  Is it enough?

One Jewish commentator sees something else here that’s worth looking at.  He suggests that Moses’ compliant isn’t really about the effect on the people.  It’s really about the impact on Moses.  It goes something like this:

“God, you sent me to represent Your intention to free these people from captivity.  I did what you asked.  But look what happened.  Things got worse.  Now what does everyone think of me?  My reputation is destroyed.  You walked me right into a disaster.  Who’s going to listen to me now?  Did You send me just so that You could watch me fail?  I trusted You to back me up—and You didn’t.  Look, if You need to make the people suffer a bit more before they were ready to follow You out of Egypt, then fine, go ahead and do that.  But don’t pull me into it.  When You’re finished with this necessity, then send me and I’ll be glad to lead them.”

You get the point, I hope.  Israel’s redemption begins with Moses’ failure!  God doesn’t need him to show up just to lead.  He needs him to be present when things go South.  He needs a leader who can deal with disappointment and, in particular, ego deflation.  Moses tried once before to rescue the people, but he tried through the power that came with his position in the society.  This time the power has to belong entirely to God.  Moses can only lead if he recognizes that he is nobody special.  In fact, he has to learn what it means to be humiliated before he can become humble.  To be sent by God is to represent God, not you or me.  We’re the vehicle, not the driver.

It’s an important nuance—one worth remembering when our egos are on the line for God.

Topical Index:  sent, šālaḥ, ego, Exodus 5:22-23