https://aish.com/when-moses-didnt-believe-god/
The Midrash continues, “Woe unto those people who testify to what they did not see. Is it possible that Moses did not believe it when God said to him, `your people have become corrupt?' But Moses wished to teach the Israelites proper behavior. Even if one hears something critical from a trustworthy person, one is not permitted to accept his word and take action on it if he does not see it himself” (Shemos Rabbah 46:1).
The Midrash seems to say that Moses did in fact believe God, but that he acted as if he did not in order to set an example for the people. However, the Midrash earlier is very clear: “Moses held on to the Tablets and did not believe that the Israelites had sinned. He said, `If I do not see it, I do not believe it.'”
The Torah forbids speaking lashon hara (defamatory speech) and rechilus (talebearing). The Chafetz Chaim says that one who accepts lashon hara or talebearing is as sinful as the one who spreads them. In fact, even when one does see an apparent wrongdoing with one's own eyes, one should still give the person the benefit of doubt and assume that there must be compelling reasons for the person's action (Ethics of the Fathers 1:6)
If you spot dangerous behaviour, then you are a fool to give the benefit of the doubt.
ReplyDeleteThus gedaliah refused to accept that Ishmael was about to kill him.
And Yechezkel gives the parable of the watchtower. He in fact refutes the claim of the CC
I say we look at precedent. One of Moshe's signs to prove to Bnei Yisrael that God had sent him was tzara'as on his hand and Chazal say that's a hint from Him that Moshe spoke LH about BY by suggesting they wouldn't believe him.
ReplyDeleteAnd then when Pharoah refuses to listen to him, Moshe gets an earful from BY about what a lousy job he's done. Not "Hey, why isn't God rescuing us?" but "Boy Moshe, did you screw things up!" So when there was a setback, they actually didn't believe him!
So Moshe Rabeinu wants personal proof that the sin is as bad as God says it is. That's why.
There is a more rational way to look at this: Moshe is given the message trough Nevuah that they are doing something naughty. BUt there are no specifics, nor has he been able to process the danger, and the way to deal with it. As a Judge, he he has to witness and se the facts on the ground , and then decide - through human thought process - how to react and correct the matter. that seems to be what is going on.
DeleteHere's another example - Achan in Sefer Yehoshua. One guy steals a few things and the message to Yehoshua is "Israel has sinned! They've trespassed!" So why should Moshe think it's more than a few guys when he hears the same message?
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