The Greatness of Humility

By R’ Mordechai Young

I once had a few students who needed to do some summer work. Naturally, they were not particularly happy with the idea. Towards the end of the year, they had some free time, so we went out to play some basketball. Luckily, I played an unbelievable game, swishing almost every shot. The 3-pointers were flying in, then some fadeaway shots with a double team on me, and as the game continued, I still landed shot after shot.

Now the boys had a different attitude. They were so impressed with my playing that they couldn’t wait to do their summer work with me. Even Stephen Curry would have been impressed with such a game! I knew it was a gift from Shamayim because it gave me extra chen in the boys’ eyes.

In this week’s parashah, Bo (11:3) the Torah states that Hashem made Am Yisrael full of chen in the eyes of the Egyptians so they would willingly comply with Am Yisrael’s request for the silver, gold, and clothing. It also states that Ish Moshe was very big in the eyes of Pharaoh’s servants. The Rambam speaks out regarding the huge nes involved in these pesukim. You would think that the Mitzrim hated us because of the makkot. Yet, the opposite happened. We actually found favor (chen) in their eyes! In addition, Moshe Rabbeinu, who had brought the makkot, was actually viewed as great, and it seems he became great in their eyes because of the makkot!

When thinking about the makkot, it’s interesting that Hashem had Moshe (or in the case of the first three makkot, Aharon) start the makkah by stretching his staff in the air. The makkot, according to some tzaddikim, are connected to making the world. For example, during Creation, Hashem made light; hence, here we have darkness. So, during Creation, it was all from Hashem. So why, during Yetzias Mitzrayim, did Moshe and Aharon have to have an input to start the makkah?

Hashem saw that Pharaoh was so far removed from belief in one G-d that he considered himself a deity of sorts. So, when Moshe announced each makkah and then made it happen, it was just too much. He needed a bridge to lead him to think that Hashem was running the world. Also, when he saw the action happening in real time, such as when the staff turned into a snake, he had no choice but to see the yad Hashem involved in the makkah; otherwise, he would think it was all “magic.” An additional benefit to all this was that it led the people to viewing Moshe as great as well.

Once Moshe received the honor, why didn’t the Torah tell us that he was not affected by it, but remained humble? In parashas Behaalotecha, Miriam and Aharon were discussing Moshe’s level of prophecy. They said they were also nevi’im and still lived at home, so it was wrong of Moshe Rabbeinu to leave his home. Hashem considered this lashon ha’ra. To equate Moshe Rabbeinu, the greatest Navi to ever live, with other nevi’im was wrong. The Torah testified that Moshe didn’t take this comment personally since he was very humble. Yet, why not state this in Parashas Bo?

I was thinking of two reasons. One is that we know everything is from Shamayim except for yiras Shamayim. With physical things it has all been decided by Hashem. So, perhaps because Moshe received the honor in Mitzrayim, it was easier for him not to let it get to his head. Later in the Torah, it’s a spiritual point, his level of prophecy that he earned, so maybe he could view that greatness about himself. But the Torah says no, Moshe was the humblest human to ever live, even in spiritual matters of free will where he earned it. Also, when someone speaks “negatively” about a person, it’s natural to take it personally, so here we see an added level of greatness by Moshe by his not taking it personally. We see this in the Torah when it describes Moshe as the “most humble.”

Let us remember that we become great by making good spiritual choices. Let us all learn from Moshe to still try to be humble, as even for spiritual success we need help from Hashem.

Good Shabbos!

R’ Mordechai Young is available as a remedial rebbe and tutor. He can be reached for comments at [email protected].