Is it fair on Moses? – Chukkat
After all, what was his sin? The people wanted water, he was told to speak to the rock, he struck it instead. and water gushed forth anyway.
Was his sin really so great? Yet God told him, “Because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eves of the Children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them”.
Rashi says. “If you had spoken to the rock and brought forth water. God’s name would have been sanctified: for the congregation of Israel would have said, ‘If a rock which neither speaks, hears nor requires sustenance fulfils the word of the Almighty, then certainly we should do so’.”
Maimonides suggests that Moses’ sin was his impatience with and anger at the Israelites, calling them rebels and fools. The Maharal adds that when there is complete faith in God. there is no room for anger.
Rabbenu Chananel focusses on Moses’ words. “Are we to bring forth water for you?” when he should have said. “Is God to bring forth water for you?” He failed to acknowledge that everything comes from God.
It is a fascinating problem. and it becomes particularly pertinent when we ponder the timeless issues it throws into perspective.
Issues such as – does a leader have to be such a tzaddik that he never loses patience when provoked? What happens when your followers expect the impossible? How should you handle a challenge, by talking or by hitting? Given all the difficulties of leadership, who would want to be a leader?
