The real problem that Moses had in Egypt was to rally the Jews to his side. Moses had to deal with a people who were suffering. They did not want to hear it if it made their lives worse. He had to address them so that they would understand.
A Quick D’var Torah – Know Before Whom You Stand
Yesterday I spoke about how the plagues were a judgment on Egypt—on its gods and ultimately on Pharaoh himself.
But today we have to deal with the elephant in the room:
Why don’t the Jews believe Moshe? Why don’t they believe Moses when he comes to save them?
Moshe arrives with a message of redemption—and their response is essentially:
“Since you came, things have only gotten worse. You’re a troublemaker.”
And in a sense, we can understand them.
These people were born into slavery. Slavery is all they’ve ever known.
Their entire reality is physical pain, exhaustion, and fear.
Moshe shows up with promises of freedom—but promises don’t ease today’s suffering.
That’s why the scene at the Burning Bush is so important.
God tells Moshe, “Take off your shoes, for the place you are standing is holy ground.”
But this isn’t just about reverence for God.
The ground Moshe is standing on is jagged, painful terrain.
For the first time, Moshe has to feel discomfort—to feel, even briefly, what the people he’s about to lead have lived with their entire lives.
Until now, Moshe has lived a charmed life.
Raised in Pharaoh’s palace. Successful at everything he touched.
He has never truly known the kind of suffering these people know.
And God is teaching him something critical:
You must address people as they are—not as you wish them to be.
I’ve learned this myself as a public speaker.
You can’t speak to every audience the same way.
What works in one room won’t work in another.
You have to understand where people are coming from, what language they understand, what pain they’re carrying.
Moshe has to learn that lesson fast.
There’s another layer here as well.
Freedom itself is frightening.
For a slave, responsibility is terrifying.
A slave isn’t accountable for his actions—the master is.
When to work, when to stop, when to eat—it’s all decided for him.
Freedom means responsibility.
My wife and I were watching Turn: Washington’s Spies, about the American Revolution.
There’s a moment when Washington gives a slave a watch.
A watch matters because once you’re free, time matters.
You’re responsible for showing up. For choosing. For acting.
And that’s the problem.
The Jews aren’t ready yet—not emotionally, not psychologically—to carry freedom.
Moshe’s greatest challenge was never Pharaoh. Pharaoh would fall.
His hardest task was rebuilding a broken people—helping them believe they were capable of freedom.
That takes time.
Something to think about.
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