Parashat Shemot: Moses' Complaint to God

Moses' Complaint: A Leader’s Doubts

Even Moses, the greatest of prophets, had his moments of doubt. And who could blame him? He was tasked to confront Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler on Earth, and demand that he release a people he saw as nothing more than slaves. When his first meeting with Pharaoh ended in disaster—things went from bad to worse for the Israelites—Moses did what anyone would do: he complained to the One who had sent him on this impossible mission.

“O Lord, why do You mistreat Your people?” Moses lamented. “Why did You send me? As soon as I came to Pharaoh in Your name, he made things worse for these people. You’ve done nothing to help!” (Exodus 5:22-23).

Now, here’s the question: Why did Moses emphasize that “I came to Pharaoh in Your Name”? Why not just say, “As soon as I came to Pharaoh, he made things worse”? Why invoke God’s Name?

The Detective and the Mafia

Joe "Scar Face" Mozzarella, a tough-talking mafioso, was feeling pleased with himself. A pesky undercover detective had been snooping around his operations, asking too many questions. But now, with the detective finally in their hands, Mozzarella told his men to teach him a lesson about what happens to nosy cops.

The detective, bruised but still defiant, gasped, “Don’t you know who I work for? I’m with the FBI! If you hurt me, they’ll shut you down for good!”

But instead of backing down, Mozzarella’s rage boiled over. “What, this fool thinks he can scare me with the FBI? I’ll show him!” He ordered his men to give the agent a beating he’d never forget.

The detective, battered and barely able to stand, limped back to his office. When his boss saw him, he asked, “What happened to you?”

“Why do you ask?” the detective replied. “Do you think you could help?”

“Who did this to you?” the boss demanded.

The detective let out a snort. “Joe Mozzarella and his gang.”  

“Doesn’t he know who you work for?”

“That’s where I went wrong,” said the agent, sighing wearily. “I thought that if I told him I was with the FBI, he’d back off. But instead, it made him furious. Then he told his men to break my bones.”

And that's when the FBI station chief, with a newfound determination, began his work. This wasn't just about protecting his agent anymore. Now, it was personal. Mozzarella hadn’t just attacked an agent—he had insulted the entire FBI. The case became a national priority. The FBI’s honor and reputation were at stake.

Moses’ Plea 

Back to Moses. Standing before God after his failed encounter with Pharaoh, Moses could have simply said, “God, I went to Pharaoh, and things just got worse for the people. Why did You send me?” But instead, Moses said, “I came to Pharaoh in Your Name, but Pharaoh didn’t listen. He only made things worse.”

Moses wasn’t just venting his frustration. He was making a powerful claim. This no longer just a matter of freeing the Israelites —it was about God’s honor. “Who is this God that I should listen to Him?” Pharaoh had dismissed God's authority with utter contempt.

God’s response was firm: “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh!” (Exodus 6:1). The time for action had come—not just for the sake of the Israelites, but to vindicate God’s honor. The redemption of the Israel was intertwined with the sanctification of God’s Name. 

Thus, the Torah repeatedly reminds us, “So Egypt will know that I am God” (7:5). The plagues, each one more devastating than the last, were a public declaration of God’s power. No one, not even the mighty Pharaoh, could defy God’s will without consequence.

(Adapted from Mishlei Yaakov, pp. 114-115)