When we study this Parsha’s conversation in which G’d is urging Moshe Rabeinu to accept the role of leadership, it is astonishing to observe how Moshe Rabeinu uses multiple arguments in his attempt to avoid the mission.
At first he reasons with G’d that Bnei Yisrael will ask him “who is the G’d who has sent you”.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֣י בָא֮ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י לָהֶ֔ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם שְׁלָחַ֣נִי אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם וְאָמְרוּ־לִ֣י מַה־שְּׁמ֔וֹ מָ֥ה אֹמַ֖ר אֲלֵהֶֽם׃
(Shemot 3:13)
Subsequently he says “They won’t trust me that I am G’d’s appointed person”.
וַיַּ֤עַן מֹשֶׁה֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר וְהֵ֛ן לֹא־יַאֲמִ֥ינוּ לִ֖י וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְע֣וּ בְקֹלִ֑י כִּ֣י יֹֽאמְר֔וּ לֹא־נִרְאָ֥ה אֵלֶ֖יךָ ה׳׃
(Shemot 4:1)
When he is given an answer to this, he simply says “I am not a speaker, and have a stutter”.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶל־ה׳֮ בִּ֣י אֲדֹנָי֒ לֹ֨א אִ֤ישׁ דְּבָרִים֙ אָנֹ֔כִי גַּ֤ם מִתְּמ֣וֹל גַּם־מִשִּׁלְשֹׁ֔ם גַּ֛ם מֵאָ֥ז דַּבֶּרְךָ֖ אֶל־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ כִּ֧י כְבַד־פֶּ֛ה וּכְבַ֥ד לָשׁ֖וֹן אָנֹֽכִי׃
(Shemot 4:10)
Upon being assured that this is not going to be an issue, Moshe Rabeinu says “send (To Pharaoh) with whoever you are sending usually”. This was a reference by Moshe to his older brother Aharon, who has been “unofficially” acting thus far. G’d then reassures him that Aharon will not only agree, but will be deeply happy that Moshe becomes the leader of Am Yisrael:
וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֨ף ה׳֜ בְּמֹשֶׁ֗ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הֲלֹ֨א אַהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֙יךָ֙ הַלֵּוִ֔י יָדַ֕עְתִּי כִּ֥י דַבֵּ֖ר יְדַבֵּ֣ר ה֑וּא וְגַ֤ם הִנֵּה־הוּא֙ יֹצֵ֣א לִקְרָאתֶ֔ךָ וְרָאֲךָ֖ וְשָׂמַ֥ח בְּלִבּֽוֹ׃
(Shemot 4:14)
It seems that all the other “reasons for refusal” were only excuses to what really was bothering Moshe – Namely that his older brother might be offended by Moshe’s new appointment, especially as he was the “unofficial leader” until now.
So why did Moshe not say so immediately? Surely, he was not trying to “hide” from G’d his real motive?
Perhaps – We learn from this chapter that often, our real reason for something is hiding deep in our subconscious mind, while we are only able to detect a more superficial reason.
Moshe Rabeinu was not – G’d forbid – hiding his feelings from his creator. He just rediscovered his real motive after exploring all other open reasons.
Indeed – he only agreed to accept the mission after G’d reassured him that Aharon will not only agree with it, but will be deeply happy by his younger brother Moshe, becoming the leader of Am Yisrael.
Warm regards and Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld