Devarim 2022
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2022
“The words of the Torah are healing. We learned this from Moshe who originally told God of his speech impediment saying; “I cannot speak in front of Pharaoh because I am heavy of mouth and of tongue. (Kvad peh vekvad Lashon)” (Ex 14, 10) And now, “These are the words that Moshe spoke to the children of Israel…”. (Midrash Rabah Deut. 1, 1)”
The entire book of Devarim is a testament to Moshe’s remarkable turnaround from a hesitant stuttering lisping stumbling non-speaker uncomfortable in front of an audience of just one into an articulate confident charismatic leader comfortable in front of millions. It was a most extraordinary demonstration of the Torah’s healing powers and could have been true sanctification of God’s name were it to be publicized and emphasized.
This may lead us to achieve a better understand of Moshe’s “hitting the rock”. In Beshalach, the first time the Jews required water, Moshe was instructed to hit the rock and cause water to come forth. Later, in Parshat Chukkas, he was instructed to speak to the rock. Many ask, “Why were the instructions changed? Why did God change from striking to speaking?” Either way, whether striking the rock or talking to it would have been extraordinarily miraculous. Possibly God wished to show the change in Moshe himself. It would have been an opportunity for Moshe to publicize that Torah heals as he himself had been healed. Moshe could have said “Before I needed to hit the rock but now, that my speech has been healed by Torah, I can speak to it with the same effect.” The name of God and His Torah would have been further elevated as people would appreciate the power of Torah’s healing words.
Moshe did not speak to the rock, in fact he hit it and yet it produced the required water. How could that have happened? Why did God turn of the well with the death of Miriam if He was going to turn it back on again for Moshe? Why did Moshe not do as instructed? God wanted to demonstrate to everyone how Torah heals. Moshe, being the most modest of all men, was uncomfortable and could not say “look at me, how much better I am!” Instead he stuck the rock, as before, knowing full well that the main purpose was to bring forth the water and could be happened either way.
Dedicated to Joel Shulman A’H