“We must speak and we must act”

“I can’t do it!”  “It’s impossible.” “No way!”  How often we hear such a voice of reluctance, in others and in ourselves, when the task before us seems daunting, difficult, or undesirable. In parashat Va’era this week, Moses takes the stance of the reluctant prophet.  The Torah tells us that in response to God’s command to him to go to Pharaoh and demand justice for his people, “Moses appealed to Adonai, saying, “Even the Israelites will not listen to me; why should Pharaoh pay attention to me, a man of impeded speech!” (Exodus 6:12)

The Torah’s choice of words here is fascinating:  “I am a man of ‘uncircumcised lips.’”  The implication is potentially powerful. Moses suggests that his lips are not merely unable to speak truth to power, but also that they are ineffective because they are somehow impure, unconsecrated or inappropriate to the task. 

Moses reveals his own deep-seated insecurity: I am not good enough. I don’t have the talent to do this job.  I lack the confidence in myself. Moreover, I am an outsider. I am neither fully of the Israelites nor of the Egyptians.  I am neither.

Moses is everyman in this moment of honesty. For who among us has not doubted his or her authenticity, sense of belonging, authority or talent.  All of us harbor doubts or insecurities.  Moses, who eventually becomes known as one of the most talented and powerful leaders in human history, begins his journey wracked by self-doubt.  

The Divine urges him on, refusing to accept “no” for an answer.  “Go,” God says.  “Do this thing.  It is necessary, and it is right.  And no one but you can accomplish the task that lies before you.  It is your destiny.”

Each of us must ultimately see our own journey in a similar light.  For some, the task is great: to right some wrong, to bring justice where there is injustice, to stand up powerfully and make a difference. For others, the task lies within: to learn to love ourselves, to trust our ability to speak, to believe and to act. 

Moses is, indeed, our teacher – Moshe Rabeinu.  For he, the one whose lips are imperfect, nonetheless speaks. And so must each of us.  We must speak, we must live and we must act.