After many years of oppression and crushing labor, the long-awaited moment arrived: Klal Yisrael (the Jewish nation) was ready for redemption.
Moshe’s Reluctance to Lead
Moshe Rabbeinu (our leader, Moses) seemed uniquely suited for the task of confronting Pharaoh and leading the nation out of Egypt. Yet when Hashem (God) entrusted him with this sacred mission, Moshe hesitated. He protested that he was not fit for leadership because of a serious speech impediment: “I am not a man of words” (Shemot 4:10). From a young age, Moshe struggled with speech, and he felt unworthy of standing before Pharaoh to carry out such an immense responsibility.
Why Not Pray?
The Ramban (Maimonides) raises a penetrating question. If Moshe’s speech difficulty troubled him so deeply, why did he not simply pray to be healed? After all, Moshe lived with complete trust in Hashem and fully internalized that the All-Powerful could transform any challenge in an instant.
The Ramban’s answer is remarkable.
Choosing to Remember the Miracle
Moshe deliberately chose not to pray for his speech to be cured—because he wanted to carry with him a constant reminder of Hashem’s kindness to him from childhood.
Chazal (our Sages – Shemot Rabbah 1:26) relate that Moshe spent much of his early life in the royal palace, even playing with Pharaoh himself. On one occasion, Moshe grabbed Pharaoh’s crown, arousing grave suspicion. The royal advisors accused him of treason, warning that this child might one day overthrow the king.
To determine his intentions, they devised a test. They placed before Moshe a crown and glowing coals. As he reached for the crown, the malach (angel) Gavriel gently pushed his hand, causing him to touch the coal instead. Moshe then placed it in his mouth, resulting in his lifelong speech impediment. The advisors concluded that he was merely attracted to shiny objects, as children often are, and his life was spared.
Through this miracle, Moshe was saved—and went on to become one of the most transformative figures in Jewish history.
A Living Testimony to Hashem’s Mercy
The Ramban explains that Moshe wanted to never forget this miracle. By living with the speech impediment, he carried a permanent reminder of the Divine intervention that saved his life. Rather than viewing it as a weakness, Moshe saw it as a living testimony to Hashem’s mercy.
This perspective is astonishing. Speech is central to human connection and leadership, yet Moshe willingly accepted this limitation in order to live with a heightened sense of gratitude to Hashem.
Never Forgetting a Single Miracle
Rabbi Simcha Zissel Broide (Sam Derech, vol. 2 p. 30) adds a powerful insight. Moshe witnessed countless open miracles throughout his life: the Ten Plagues, water turning to blood, frogs swarming the land, devastating pestilence, and darkness so thick it could be felt. He stood at Kriat Yam Suf, watching the Red Sea split and then crash down upon the Egyptians. He saw the manna fall from Heaven, the Be’er Miriam (Miriam’s well) provide water in the desert, and the Ananei HaKavod (Clouds of Glory) protect Klal Yisrael through the wilderness. He also experienced repeated salvations from enemies such as Amalek, Sichon, Og, and Midyan.
And yet, Moshe never forgot a single miracle—not even one that occurred when he was an infant. Despite witnessing so many wonders later in life, he never prayed for his speech to be healed, because he could never forget the kindness that preserved his life.
From Moshe, we learn the importance of living with our miracles, no matter how long ago they occurred.
Carrying Gratitude Through the Years
A similar idea is illustrated by Rav Avraham Azulai, the grandfather of the Chida. While traveling by sea from Eretz Yisrael (Israel) to chutz la’aretz (the diaspora) to raise funds for the poor, his ship was caught in a violent storm and was close to sinking. Rav Avraham accepted upon himself that if the sea calmed, he would praise Hashem daily and publicize the miracle.
Immediately, the storm subsided.
From that moment on, Rav Avraham changed his signature to include the image of a ship, ensuring that even decades later, he would never miss an opportunity to remember—and share—the kindness Hashem had shown him. (adapted from Shem HaGedolim)
Living With Our Miracles
The message is clear: gratitude is not meant to fade with time. Like Moshe, we are called upon to carry our miracles with us—to remember them, live by them, and allow them to shape a life of enduring appreciation.
By Rabbi Daniel Shasha, author of “Living Appreciation”
