I used to say, only half in jest, that the proof that Moses was the greatest of the prophets is that when God asked him to lead the Jewish people, he refused four times.

Who am I to lead? They won't believe in me. I'm not a man of words. Please send someone else.

It is as if Moses knew with uncanny precision what he would be letting himself in for.

Somehow, he sensed in advance that it may be hard to be a Jew, but to be a leader of Jews is almost

impossible. How did Moses know this? The answer lies many years back in his youth. It was then, when having grown

up, he went out to see his people for the first time. He saw them enslaved, forced into

heavy labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He intervened and saved

his life. The next day he saw two Hebrews fighting, and again he intervened. This time the man

stopped him and he said,

me, Salach al-is, Salvos, show feit al-a-lainu, who appointed you, our leader and our judge?

Note that Moses hadn't even thought of being a leader and already his leadership was being

challenged. And these are the first recorded words spoken to Moses by a fellow

Jew. That was his reward for saving the life of an Israelite the day before. And though God

persuaded Moses or ordered him to lead, it never ceased to be difficult and often demoralizing.

In Devarim, he calls the time when he said, Echa is Salavadi,

how can I bear alone? Your problems, your burdens and your disputes all by myself.

And in Balotachah, he suffered what can only be called a breakdown. He asked the Lord,

why have you brought this trouble on your servant?

What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did

I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms

as a nurse carries an infant to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? I cannot carry

all these people by myself.

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