Redemptive Birth

[Shimon]

“And the angel of the L'RD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.”

– Exodus 3:2, JPS 1917 Tanach

Moshe was born at a time when the descendants of Jacob were enslaved in Egypt. The new king had imposed harsh measures on them, because he felt threatened by their vast population (see Exodus 1:7-14). Yet, the remedy for the enslavement of B’nei Yisrael had already been hinted at by Joseph, generations prior to their hardships, when he told his brothers, before he passed away, “pekod yifkod Elokim, G'd will surely visit you” (Genesis 50:25).

This phrase points towards a redeemer, who would serve as the L'RD’s servant, sent to redeem the people from their bondage of cruelty under the Egyptians. The Torah gives an account of the birth of this redeemer, who is described as being “a goodly child” (Ex. 2:2). His mother hid him for three months, because of the decree that Pharaoh had made against all male infants. Yet, he escaped the decree by being placed in a small ark sealed with pitch, set in the Nile River. Moreover, because of the compassion of Pharaoh’s daughter, he was drawn out of the water, nursed by his own mother, and then taken by Pharaoh’s daughter as a son. Subsequently, he was brought up in the household of Pharaoh; having been nursed by his own mother, he knew of his own Hebrew heritage.

 

“By Emunah, Moshe Rabbeinu, when he had grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure redifah (persecution) with the Am H’Shem [the people of the L'RD] than to enjoy the ephemeral ta’anugot (pleasures) of averos [sins] for a season.”

– Yehudim in Moshiach 11:24-26, OJB

Moses commiserated with his brethren; he left the confines of Pharaoh’s palace, in order to see firsthand the hardships that his brethren endured. Because his early years were enriched by the values of his people, being inculcated in him by his birth mother, a Hebrew who nursed him from birth, he grew up with an awareness of his heritage, as well as an understanding of the G'd, who his ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob worshipped.

Although he was educated as well in the teachings of the Egyptians, he did not capitulate to their influence; when he joined his people in their sufferings, he left behind the luxuries of Egypt, in favor of the G'd of Israel, replete with all the recompense of reward for serving the L'RD. Worldly pleasures are transitory; yet, the riches of Shomayim (Heaven) await those who follow the narrow path on the way to chayei olam (eternal life).

After forty years as a shepherd, he encountered G'd, who appeared to him in a lowly thornbush that was aflame, yet, not consumed. Rashi comments that this signifies how G-d condescended, so to speak, to be with B’nei Yisrael in the midst of their tsoros (troubles). “I will be with him in trouble” (Psalm 91:15). The L'RD is also with us, in the midst of our own trials. Today, more than ever, when our expectations for the Final Redemption, garner our attention to be placed on Olam Haba (the World to Come), may our trust in the promises of the Messiah, outweigh any misplaced trust that we may have in what the world has to offer.