Shemos: Seeing One's Potential “And Moshe said to Hashem, who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and I will go with the B’nei Yisroel from Egypt.” (Shemos, Perek 3, Posuk 11).
On this Verse Rashi states that Moshe’s statement was not only asking Hashem if he was fit for being the leader of Klal Yisroel, but was also questioning if Klal Yisroel actually deserved redemption. A suggestion to why he asked this question is that he saw that the Jews had become so absorbed into Egyptian society, that he saw no difference between the Egyptians and the Jews.
Hashem answered both of Moshe’s questions as follows: -
- Har Sinai was chosen as the site for Matan Torah-the giving of the Torah because it was one of the smallest mountains in its range. Therefore, by selection of this rather low mountain Hashem indicated to Moshe that the humility he showed in questioning his leadership role exemplified the reason why he was selected.
- As an answer to the second question, Hashem told Moshe that one must be able to assess people not only on their current performance, rather on their actual potential. Our sages explain, “Who is a wise man? One who can foresee the future” (Meseches Tamid). Although the Jews in Egypt were doing wrong, Hashem knew they had the potential to reject assimilating into Egyptian society, accept the rule of G-d, and would declare together at Har Sinai “Na’aseh V’Nishma (we will do and we will listen).”
Some people will readily apply this principle of considering the potential in other areas, willing to take some risk because of a good chance that they may earn something better. However, they don’t apply this principle with regards to people, rejecting a person who does not presently measure up to a certain standard, and therefore totally ignoring the person’s potential for growth in the future.
Every investment is a risk! There is a Midrash brought down that Hashem knew there was a risk of the Jews deteriorating, by assimilating and by serving idols, as they did in the end by the egel hazohav (Golden Calf). However, this did not stop Hashem from investing in B’nei Yisroel. We see this concept within the Jewish people themselves. What other sect of people have been persecuted constantly simple for believing in G-d, expelled from country after country, being killed by the millions in the holocaust, and would still openly declare their belief in Hashem both physically and spiritually.
Additionally, we are required to emulate Hashem’s attributes. Just like Hashem who has had faith and trust in B’nei Yisroel, and considers potential as part of his judgement, so too we must have faith and trust in other peoples potential. |
