Well Why Not Moshe’s Sons?

In the closing parshiot of Sefer BaMidbar, the initial preparation for entering the promised land is recorded. Moshe was reminded that he would not be leading the nation across the Jordan River to settle the land of Canan. As a result, an interesting conversation between Hashem and Moshe  is shared by our sages in the Midrash.

As an introduction, the Midrash comments that Moshe understood this was the optimum moment to make his deep emotional request of Hashem. He wanted his sons, Gershom and Eliezer to replace him as the leader of the nation.

In response to Moshe’s desire, Hashem said “The one who guards the tree eats its fruits. Your sons lived for themselves and were not engaged in learning and teaching Torah. Whereas Yehoshua served you  and showered you with  honor . He was totally dedicated to you, arriving to your bet midrash before sunrise and remaining until well after sunset. He served you to his full capacity, and so it’s logical he should serve the Jewish people.

The Midrash makes two important points. First, Moshe’s sons were not qualified to take his place. Second, Yehoshua was very qualified. It would seem that only Yehoshua’s qualifications needed to be stated in order to justify Hashem’s choice over not only Moshe’s sons but other very great people like Elazar, Calev, Pinchas,  and Nachshon 

Why did Hashem need to seemingly degrade Moshe’s sons to his face?  Let’s take a closer look at Moshe’s sons and Yehoshua and learn an important lesson.

The Mabit, 16th century Torah giant shared the following insight. The Mishna in Pirkei Avot,  Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai said “If you have studied much Torah, do not take credit for yourself, because that is what you were created to do.” The Mabit explained that a person should not praise himself in his accomplishments, which will place him above others in his mind, because “that is how he was created.” His superiority is natural, it comes from Hashem. Although he accomplished more than someone else, he was not responsible for his advantage.

The Mishna is also emphasizing that every individual is expected to achieve according to his talent endowment from Hashem. So, if two people achieved at the same level but one of them fulfilled his potential and the other did not, the first one receives a greater reward from Hashem.

Based on the Mabit’s commentary, HaRav Pinchas Zavichi, the Ateret Paz, explains the comparison between Moshe’s sons and Yehoshua differently. The sons of Moshe were endowed with the same raw talent as their father. They were exceedingly great in Torah, above everyone else in their generation. They were surely greater than Yehoshua. This was the reason Moshe wanted them to take his place. He recognized their brilliance.

But Hashem judges people by a different measuring system. Instead of comparing people, He compares each individual against himself. Although Moshe’s sons were endowed with let’s say, 100 measures of wisdom, they only utilized 20 measures. Whereas Yehoshua was endowed with 10 measures of wisdom and he fulfilled all of them.

It’s eye opening to reread the description in the Midrash of three of them. For Moshe’s two sons, the Midrash says, they were not engaged in learning. It means, because they were not reaching  their potential, in the Eyes of Hashem it’s considered like they were not engaged at all.

Regarding Yehoshua, the Midrash does not even mention Torah, but focuses on him toiling intensively in all of his duties . Hashem told Moshe, if this is the way he serves you, 100% 24/7, then he is the perfect candidate to replace you.

A further important point regarding the description of Yehoshua, Hashem selected him both for his spiritual accomplishments and his physical successes. However, the Midrash only commented on the physical, he straightened the furniture, rolled out the mats, and did both to the best of his ability. It was necessary to emphasize the physical because his duties as the leader of the nation would require the spiritual and physical.

But why didn’t the Midrash comment on Yehoshua’s spiritual qualities? The answer, it didn’t have to. By stating Yehoshua served Moshe with all his ability, it is understood that whatever he undertook he did with all his ability. This is based on a human quality, a truism, that a person cannot do the best he can in any one thing unless he does the best he can in everything.

Hashem chose as the leader of Israel someone who gave his best in everything he did, just like his predecessor.

Where do we see proof that Moshe always did the best he could? Chazal learn it out from the alternating of the order of Moshe’s and Aharon’s names in the Chumash. There are verses that Moshe’s name was written first indicating that he was the greatest of the generation and others that Aharon’s name came first indicating he was on top. Rashi comments that by alternating their names the Torah is teaching that they were equal.

HaRav Moshe Feinstein Z”L commented, how could Aharon be considered equal to Moshe, the rebbe of the nation, the king, the greatest navi in world history and on and on? HaRav Moshe clarified that the two were equal in their effort and drive, not in ability. They both served Hashem with all their ability, 100%.

Let’s ask a personal question to the Chinuch Matters participants. What do you prefer, the child with the best grade in the class or the child who tried his best? In their class, Gershom and Eliezer would have scored higher than Yehoshua, even though they were only using 20% of their natural ability.

What’s unfortunate is that even though most parents would intellectually choose Yehoshua over Moshe’s sons, especially after reading this powerful insight, they don’t really practice it. Parents always want to know how the rest of the class did. They really believe a focus on effort and hard work is only meant for children who don’t have the capacity to be at the top. What’s unfortunate is children suffer in life when they are raised and driven by their parents’ egos. In the end, most children do not reach their potential in all areas. What a waste.

Maybe the following Talmudic story will shake us a bit. Rav Yosef, the grandson of Rebbe Yehoshua ben Levi became ill and lost consciousness. When he came out of his coma his father asked him what he saw. He said, “an upside-down world, the great ones are on the bottom, and the insignificant ones are seated next to His Holy Throne.  His father replied, you saw the world of truth and we live in the world of falsity.

The message of the Talmudic story is that the true Torah hashkafa is effort over achievement. However, society in general, most schools, and most parents practice the opposite. I challenge you to buck the ways of the world of falsity.

Chinch Matters places great value in human effort. Let me help you devise a home-based plan for developing a growth mindset in your children.