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In this week’s parasha, Moshe’s life comes to an end. Because of the incident of the rock (he hit the rock instead of speaking to it, as God had commanded), Moshe was not allowed to enter the Land of Israel. The Rabbis in the Midrash had great difficulty with this outcome. They created a wonderful dialogue called Petirat Moshe in which Moshe demands that God reverse the decision. God responds to Moshe’s arguments with proofs of His own. As a consolation, God promises to bury Moshe. We don’t have to look to Midrash, however, to find consolation. It’s already in our parasha.
The words used immediately after Moshe’s death are quite complementary, as would be in any eulogy. But there is a phrase which takes it to a new level. It says: וְלֹא־קָ֨ם נָבִ֥יא ע֛וֹד בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל כְּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁר֙ יְדָע֣וֹ הֹ' פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים - “there was never a prophet like Moshe whom God knew, face to face.” This phrase sounds familiar because it’s in the Yigdal prayer.
To truly appreciate this phrase, we have to go back to Exodus when Moshe was first
getting to know God. Back then, God allowed Moshe to only “see His back”– וְרָאִ֖יתָ
אֶת־אֲחֹרָ֑י -a phrase which has been understood as allowing Moshe access to the divine that others had never had, even though it was not complete. God’s back is not as close as face-to-face, but as God tells Moshe: לֹֽא־יִרְאַ֥נִי הָאָדָ֖ם וָחָֽי- No one may see Me and live.”
Later on, in Bemidbar, Moshe is upgraded to speaking פֶּ֣ה אֶל־פֶּ֞ה, mouth-to-mouth, with
God, as well as וּתְמֻנַת ה' יַבִּיט - being able to see God’s likeness.
Over the years Moshe stood up to God, prayed to God, argued with God. Most of us
have someone to whom we must answer. When decisions are made by a human
authority we may understand the reasons, we may grumble, and we may even be able
to overturn the decision. But, as the High Holiday season reminds us, we all answer to
God. We might not always understand His reasons and we cannot overturn His
decisions.
The Torah mentions God’s decree against Moshe 10 times and never once, according
to the plain text of the Torah, did Moshe argue. In our parasha, the eulogy gives Moshe
an upgrade; he will be remembered as having known God פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים - face-to-face.
Perhaps this is a sign that God was sorry for having to make an example of his most
trusted servant Moshe.
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