Shemos: How Moshe Became a Leader: The Story of the Burning Bush
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
In this week's parsha, we read about how Moshe became the leader of the Jewish people. It all started at the burning bush, where he changed from being just another Jew watching his people suffer to become their savior and guide.
Why did God choose Moshe? The Midrash tells us a telling story. One day, while Moshe was watching his sheep, he saw that one had wandered away. Instead of ignoring it, Moshe went after the sheep and found it drinking water. He said kindly, "I didn't know you were thirsty," and carried it back to the flock on his shoulders. This simple act revealed the essential quality of leadership: empathy.
A good leader is different from a manager. While a manager uses power to control things, a true leader helps people grow and builds trust. As the saying goes, "A leader is someone who helps others bloom." Moshe showed this quality when he left Pharaoh's palace to see how his fellow Jews were suffering. He didn't just watch - he felt their pain in his heart. Later, when Moshe talked to God about choosing the next leader, he called God "the God of all Spirits," showing he understood that a leader must be able to connect with all types of people.
But Moshe, at first, didn't want to be the leader. He argued with God for a whole week, making two main points: First, he said he wasn't good enough because he had trouble speaking clearly. He also said that if he couldn't bring the final redemption (Moshiach), then why not just send Moshiach right away? These two arguments seem opposite - one saying, "I'm not good enough," and the other saying, "Let's do it perfectly or not at all."
This teaches us something important about being a leader: you need both humility and self-esteem. Most people think these are opposites, but they're not. Real self-esteem comes with humility. Humility means putting aside what you want life to look like and accepting the job God gave you, even if it's not perfect. Ego comes from not feeling good enough about yourself, so you try to make everything look perfect. God answered Moshe by saying, "I will work through you" - meaning, just be yourself and let Me help you succeed.
Moshe also worried that the people wouldn't listen to him. God gave him three signs to help:
The staff turning into a snake: This showed that when Jews seem angry or unwilling to listen, they're really like a holy staff that has fallen down. Don't be scared - pick them up with care.
The hand becoming diseased and then healthy: This taught that when people seem spiritually "sick," the problem is only on the surface. If you bring them close with kindness, their true goodness shows.
Water turning to blood: Unlike the first two signs, God didn't promise this one would work. Sometimes, we must just increase our passion and care for others, whether we see results or not.
There's a story about this from the Lubavitcher Rebbe. When people complained that he was too nice to non-religious Jews, the Previous Rebbe explained: Just as parents give extra love to a child with special needs, God has extra love for Jews who are far from Torah. We should do the same.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that today, we can't just be followers anymore - every Jew needs to be a leader in bringing the redemption. We all have a spark of Moshe in us, and we all face our own "burning bush" moments where we need to step up. We might doubt ourselves or worry others won't listen, but we should remember God's message to Moshe.
When we work with others, we should first try to lift them up. If that doesn't work, we should bring them closer with kindness. And if that doesn't work, we should just increase our care and passion even more. When we truly believe in people, they eventually learn to believe in themselves. When we love people, they learn to love themselves too.
This is how Moshe became the leader who would bring redemption, and these are the lessons we all need to learn to help bring the final redemption.
Adapted from “Life Talks on the Parsha”