A couple of weeks ago we read in the Torah about the very unfortunate incident for Moses that resulted in his banishment from the Promised Land. The Children of Israel were complaining – as they always seem to do – about not having water. Moses is commanded by the Divine to speak to the rock, and water will come out. In his frustration, Moses hits the rock, water comes out, and the people stop their bellyaching.
End of Story.
Not quite.
Fast forward 37 years. Moses has just been told that he will not be allowed to enter Canaan with the Children of Israel. The Boss has decided that Moses will not get the promotion. Instead, the people will follow Joshua into their future.
Moses is heartbroken. He begs God to let him enter the Land – even if not as the leader of Israel. Do not leave him behind! Moses pleads his case – has he ever failed to be loyal, even though his charges were horribly annoying? God answers Moses that he should remember the rock that he hit. That is why he must die on Mount Nebo.
How horribly unfair!
One of the explanations for this — the reason for firing Moses–is purposefully wrong. Indeed, Moses deserved to enter Canaan, but there was no way that Joshua could lead if Moses was along. Every time Joshua would give an order, Israel would check with Moses. The new leadership had to be given a chance to lead.
But there is another way of looking at this story, one that provides a very different twist.
Much earlier in the Torah (Exodus 17) we have a story where Moses is actually commanded to hit the rock. He does, and God is pleased. What is so different?
The story in Exodus occurs right after Israel has left Egypt. It was the age of the parting of the Yam Suf, Sinai, manna, Miriam’s well – miracle upon miracle upon miracle.
But now, Israel must deal with reality. They are going to enter what will become their homeland, live with or conquer their neighbors, build cities and establish a new civilization. This will not happen by the wave of a staff. It will only happen by speaking with one other and with those who will share their land.
Moses was from the ‘old ways’ – the miraculous. Now Israel had to get real – a new form of leadership. Yes, Moses deserved to enter Canaan, but he was the wrong person for the right time.
B’Shalom
Rabbi Stanley Halpern