Choosing a Leader

...There can be but one leader for a generation, and not two leaders for a generation.

(13) ויצום אל בני ישראל signifies that HE GAVE THEM A CHARGE regarding them; viz., to deal with them in a gentle manner and to be patient with them (Exodus Rabbah 7:3)

(13) ביד תשלח signifies by the hand of him whom Thou art accustomed to send; viz., Aaron (Exodus Rabbah 3:16). Another explanation is: by the hand of some other person whom Thou wilt be pleased to send — for in the end “I” shall not bring them into the land of Israel nor shall “I” become their deliverer in the future — and You have many messengers! (Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 40)

(14).... Even now Aharon is setting out to meet you, and he will be happy to see you.

(14) וראך ושמח בלבו AND WHEN HE SEETH THEE, HE WILL BE GLAD IN HIS HEART — not as you believe, that he will be angry with you became you have attained a high position. In consequence of this, Aaron was privileged to wear the ornament of the breastplate which was placed over his heart (cf. Exodus 28:29) (Shabbat 139a; Exodus Rabbah 3:17).

Rabbi Yehudah said, "Rav said, "When Moshe ascended to the heavens, he found the Holy One, Blessed be He, sitting and attaching crowns to the letters. He said before Him, "Master of the Universe! Who is staying your hand?" He said to him, "There is one man man who will exist after many generations, and Akiva the son of Yosef is his name, who will in the future expound on every crown and crown piles and piles of laws." He said before Him, "Master of the Universe! Show him to me." He said to him, "Turn backwards." He went and sat at the end of eight rows [of students in Rabbi Akiva's Beit Midrash], and he did not know what they were talking [about]. He got upset. As soon as he got to one [other] thing, his students said to him, "Our teacher, from where do you learn this?" He said to them, "It is a law [that was taught] to Moshe at Sinai." He calmed down. He returned and came before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and said before Him, "Master of the Universe! You have a man like this, and You are giving the Torah through me?" He said to Him, "Be silent. This is what I have decided." He said before Him, "Master of the Universe! You have shown me his Torah; show me his reward." He said to him, "Turn backwards." He turned backwards, and saw that they were tearing his skin with iron combs. He said before Him, "Master of the Universe! Such Torah, and such reward!" He said to him, "Be silent. This is what I have decided."

(6) To whom does this verse in Job refer? Rebbe Akiva!

R. Akiba was a shepherd of Ben Kalba Sabua. His daughter saw how modest and noble [the shepherd] was She said to him, “Were I to be betrothed to you would you go away to [study at] an academy?” he replied, “Yes”. She was then secretly betrothed to him and sent him away. Her father heard [what she had done]. He sent her from his house and forbade her by a vow to have any benefit from his estate. [R. Akiva] departed and spent twelve years at the academy... When he finally returned (24 years later) he brought with him twenty-four thousand disciples... Her father heard that a great man had come to the town. He said, “I shall go to him; perchance he will invalidate my vow.” When he came to him [R. Akiva] asked, “Would you have made your vow if you had known that he was a great man?” He replied, “[Had he known even one chapter or even one single halakhah [I would not have made the vow].” He then said to him, “I am that man.” He then fell upon his face and kissed his feet and also gave him half of his wealth.

What was significant about Moshe's upbringing?

What was also significant about Moshe's upbringing?

Moshe's humility exceeded that of Avraham- because Avraham said, "v'anochi affar v'eiffer" -"and I am dust and ash" (Bereishit 18:27), whereas Moshe said "I am nothing" (see Shmot 16:8 - "v'nachnu ma" - "who are we", referring to himself and Aharon).

(22) אשר נשיא יחטא — The word אשר is connected in meaning with ‎‎‏אשרי “happy”. Happy is the generation whose leader takes care to bring an atonement sacrifice even for an inadvertent act of his; how much the more certain is it that he will do penance for his willful sins (Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura d'Chovah, Sec 5 1; Horayot 10b)

(2) ... Our teachers have said: Once, while Moses our Teacher was tending [his father-in-law] Yitro’s sheep, one of the sheep ran away. Moses ran after it until it reached a small, shaded place. There, the lamb came across a pool and began to drink. As Moses approached the lamb, he said, “I did not know you ran away because you were thirsty. You are so exhausted!” He then put the lamb on his shoulders and carried him back. The Holy One said, “Since you tend the sheep of human beings with such overwhelming love - by your life, I swear you shall be the shepherd of My sheep, Israel.”

What made Moshe a good leader? Because he saw their burden and it affected him!

(11) Some time after that, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his kinsfolk and witnessed their labors. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsmen. (12) He turned this way and that and, seeing no one about, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.