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Why does Moshe tell God that Pharaoh won't listen because 'I am not an orator' when the Jews didn't listen due to exhaustion from harsh labor? This marks Moshe's evolution from prophet to leader, taking complete responsibility for failure even when external factors are clearly to blame. True leadership means owning outcomes regardless of circumstances - a principle that applies to anyone in their sphere of responsibility.
Rabbi Zweig analyzes a puzzling episode in Parshas Va'era where Moshe's logic seems flawed. After the Jewish people fail to listen to his message of redemption due to being overwhelmed by their harsh labor, Moshe tells God that if they won't listen, surely Pharaoh won't listen either because 'I am not an orator.' The apparent logical fallacy is obvious - the Jews didn't listen because they were too busy and exhausted, while Pharaoh wouldn't have that same constraint. The deeper question emerges: Why is Moshe again refusing God's mission after having been punished for similar reluctance at the burning bush? And why does the Torah (תורה) suddenly provide an extensive genealogy establishing Moshe and Aharon's credentials at this particular moment?
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Parshas Va'era 6:12, 7:1
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