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Moshes' refusal to accept the mission does not necessarily indicate a lack of desire to save the Israelites or to obey God's order. Following his concerns, God gives him an answer, so that he can start carrying out his mission. Expressing concern about responsibility and commitment to a position, does not necessarily detract from the commitment or the desire to accept the task, and is not a negative approach. Awareness makes it possible to identify the forces and tools that will enhance the performance of the mission.
In this unit, we will learn about the choice of Moshe, who was a shepherd, to be a leader; about the mission assigned to Moshe at the Burning Bush, and about his refusal to accept it. Following the conversation between God and Moshe, we will discuss the idea of refusing a mission, the fear of accepting responsibility, as well as matters that can help us deal with the goals we face. From the study of Moshes' leadership we will learn about the qualities required from a leader. We will learn how challenges in the position can be answered and supported. We will learn that God is attentive to the leader's needs and offers him various solutions to his concerns. We will understand that in order to take on the challenge it is important to strengthen and understand the mission, and purpose of the position.
El éxodo de Egipto. Mapa con explicacionesSelf awareness: recognizing and reflecting on strengths and weaknesses, identifying emotions
Responsible decision making: identifying problems, analyzing possible solutions
Sensible decision-making, problem identification and analysis of possible solutions.
Chapter 3 opens with a description of Moshe tending to his father-in-law Jethro’s flock in the desert. The Midrash regards this role of Moshe as a parable for a leader, who has compassion for the nation and cares for them (Midrash Shemot Rabba, Chapter 2, 2). Moshe's refusal to accept the mission is contradictory to the qualities of leadership that appear in the Midrash.
Moshe's immediate response is: “But Moshe said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and free the Israelites from Egypt?” (3:11)
God responds to Moshe's claims: “I will be with you” (3:12)
And: “That shall be your sign that it was I who sent you. And when you have freed the people from Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain” (3:12)
But Moshe continued to express reservations about the position given to him. He was worried that the nation would ask who sent him to save them, and God gives him the answer that he must give to the people: “Ehyeh sent me to you” (3:14)
He also mentions that He is the God of the forefathers, thus alluding to the Covenant made with Abraham in the Covenant between the Pieces (Gen. 15, 13-14), where He assured Abraham that the Israelites would leave Egypt with great possessions.
After Moshe continues with his refusal: “But Moshe spoke up and said, “What if they do not believe me and do not listen to me, but say: יהוה did not appear to you?” (4:1), God gives Moshe signs. The purpose of the signs is twofold – (1) to convince Moshe to agree to accept the mission, (2) but also for Moshe to use them as a tool to go to the Israelites and convince them to believe God's words about taking them out of Egypt.
In the previous lesson we learned about God's revelation to Moshe at the Burning Bush.
Let's read Chapter 3, verse 1: “Now Moshe, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, drove the flock into the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.”
Let’s ask:
- Why is it important for the Torah to tell us that Moshe was a shepherd?
• Why is it important for the Torah to tell us that Moshe came to the Burning Bush while tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law?
Let’s read the Midrash:
Our teachers have said: Once, while Moshe our Teacher was tending [his father-in-law] Yitro’s sheep, one of the sheep ran away. Moshe ran after it until it reached a small, shaded place. There, the lamb came across a pool and began to drink. As Moshe approached the lamb, he said, “I did not know you ran away because you were thirsty. You are so exhausted!” He then put the lamb on his shoulders and carried him back. The Holy One said, “Since you tend the sheep of human beings with such overwhelming love - by your life, I swear you shall be the shepherd of My sheep, Israel.” (first) he brought out the smallest (lambs) to pasture, so they should graze on the soft tufts of grass; then afterwards, he brought out the old sheep, so they could graze on the medium (quality) grass –after that he brought out the strong sheep to graze on the tough pasture ... one who knows how to shepherd the flock, each according to their strength, should come and shepherd My people …” (Midrash Shmot Rabba, Chapter 2:2)
Let’s ask –
• What qualities other than the one mentioned in the Midrash, are common to a shepherd and a leader?
• Which other well-known leaders in the Bible were shepherds? Gen. 30:36: “while Jacob was pasturing the rest of Laban’s flock”; Sam. 1, 16:11: “There is still the youngest; he is tending the flock.”
Closing Discussion in the Plenary:
In light of the midrash, how would we expect Moshe to respond to the mission given to him – to save the Israelites from the Egyptians?
In light of Moshe's qualities mentioned in Chapter 2, and in light of Moshe's qualities as a shepherd, we have greater expectations that Moshe would agree to take on the role. It is surprising to see Moshe hesitate, afraid of "what they will say." Do you know the feeling of suddenly having a knee-jerk reaction to a task you really wanted to fulfill?
Let’s open the session by reading verse 10 once again:
“Come, therefore, I will send you to Pharaoh, and you shall free My people, the Israelites, from Egypt” (3:10)
Let’s ask – what must Moshe do before embarking on this mission?
Referring to –
Actions
Means
Strengths
Qualities
We will learn about Moshe's response to the mission in several stages.
Reading Assignment
The students will split up into groups of 2 or 3 and read the verses.
You can write a literal interpretation, or a translation in the middle column, or explain the verses in your own words.
In the third column, we will ask the students to imagine a cloud over Moshe's head, in relation to what he says/asks and what he hears from God.
Active Discussion
After completing the table, we will ask the students to volunteer to act as a person who happened to pass in the desert and see/listen to the dialogue between Moshe and God.
The "spectators" will share their impressions with the class.
We can ask the "spectators" whether these matters were also raised while studying the verses and doing the exercise in the groups.
Reading Assignment
At this point, we will see what other details Moshe hears from God, regarding his mission, and we will discuss the question – does this information contribute to his acceptance of the mission? And if so – in what way?
The students will read verses 15-22.
The verses are highlighted in three colors to distinguish between –
What Moshe must do
What Moshe must say to the people in God’s name
What will happen in the future, at the time of the Redemption?
We will ask the students to think about how these affect Moshe, how they help him in accepting and carrying out the mission.
Stage 2 – Additional Details About the Mission.
Plenary Discussion
We will hold a class discussion – Were Moshe's fears justified?
1. A teacher in the classroom
We will start by asking - what will Moshe's reaction be? Did he receive an answer to his concerns?
Let's read Chapter 4, verses 1-9. Let's read verse 1 aloud –
But Moshe spoke up and said, “What if they do not believe me and do not listen to me, but say: ה' did not appear to you?”
Discussion - Back to Back in Moshe's response
We will also conduct the discussion according to the Back to Back practice (reference to Sparks)
We will divide the students into pairs, give each student the questions in advance, and after an allotted time for preparation, the students will turn to each other and share their thoughts. We will stop the discussion after a few minutes and give the students another opportunity of sharing with other students.
At the end, we will ask each pair to write on the board, or share orally, a significant answer that came up to one of the questions.
We will emphasize that this time God's response is different. He does not speak to Moshe but gives him signs.
Attached is worksheet Stage 3. Back to Back with the questions for discussion.
We will not study the signs in depth. You should read the description of the signs in class and emphasize the essence of each one:
Why would this surprise the spectators? What is different here? What is unnatural?
(A staff that turns into a snake and back again, a hand that turns leprous, and the leprosy disappears in an instant, a future sign – Moshe will take some water from the Nile and throw it on the ground and it will turn into blood)
And also to emphasize the goal expressed in God's words:
“that they may believe that ה', the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did appear to you” (4:5)
“And if they do not believe you or pay heed to the first sign, they will believe the second” (4:8)
“And if they are not convinced by both these signs and still do not heed you, take some water from the Nile” (4:9)
Discussion in the Plenary
After presenting the signs, we will discuss the following questions -
1. How do the signs differ from the sign of the Burning Bush? (The revelation at the Burning Bush is intended for Moshe, the signs are intended for Moshe, but they are also part of the mission itself – they are also intended to be witnessed by the Israelites).
2. Have we seen similar signs given to the forefathers?
(In the time of the patriarchs, God speaks to them directly. Here we are talking about a different era, the people are in a different situation, they are enslaved, they are at a low stage and are more distant from God and His messages. There is a need for more tangible contact and it is also necessary to give Moshe's provisions before he goes out to meet the Israelites This reality does not exist in Genesis).
3. What does it mean about Moshe that he needs signs?
4. What does it say about the people that they need signs?
We will learn about the rest of this event in the next lesson. Spoiler:
Even after seeing the signs, Moshe refuses to accept the mission .
But God does not give in.
Does this surprise you?
Following the study of Moshe' response, we will give the students time to think about missions in their own world and the things they are taking from Moshe's story, in this matter.
*We will pay attention to the definition of the term “mission,” today – "an act of great significance, which originates from inner faith and not from expectation for personal profit" (this is a dictionary definition). Even if one is not talking about a mission like the one given to Moshe, we can deal with the idea of commitment to work for a great cause.
We will then discuss missions in the students' world.
We will ask –
What is a mission for us? We will ask the students to bring examples of a mission – it can be something small, limited or big.
After looking at the examples that came up in class, we will ask –
1. What motivates me/any person to go on a mission?
2. When did I refuse to do something asked from me? Why did I refuse? Did I debate whether to agree or refuse?
3. Does the refusal affect the performance of the mission or position? Is a person who initially refused the mission able to perform it? Is it appropriate for him to perform it?
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