Moses 17

(5:22-26)(21:5)(28:5-6)(7-137)(32:24)(45:16)

      Moses was disappointed with the answer his nation gave him; he asked God for guidance.  God told Moses, “If your nation has been insisting upon leading a settled life, I will give them a land to settle; they will have to attack the city and conquer it.”  On his return, Moses discussed the plan with his nation and gave them the assurance of success by God.

          The elders of the nation, the products of slavery, were not satisfied with it.  So far, the nation of Israelites had done nothing for their improvement except follow Moses’ directions.  Now, against the advice of Moses, they wanted to live a settled life, so they had to execute a plan themselves and act on it.

The Israelites listened to Moses; in spite of the assurances of success by God, they refused to follow it. They said, “The people who are living in the city are very tall and strong.  We will not fight with such a strong nation. The best solution is that the people living in the city should leave it without any struggle.  Once they are gone, then definitely we will enter the city.”  Moses and his brother differed from this absurd proposal and said, “Don’t behave like cowards; we have studied the defense of the city. It is very weak; the inhabitants have not provided a good defense for the protection of the city.  Once we enter the gates of the city, we are going to take them by surprise, and it will bring victory for us.  Moreover, believe in the revelation of God and put your trust in Him.”

All these arguments failed to produce any change in the Israelites’ attitude.  They bluntly told Moses, “We are not going to follow your plan and fight with such a mighty nation.  If you are so sure of success, then go with your brother and God to fight.  In the meanwhile, we are sitting here.”

Moses went to Mount Sinai with the answer of his nation.  He was devastated with the refusal.  Moses said, “Oh God! I have no control over my nation. I and my brother are willing to act, whereas the nation is refusing to act according to your instructions.  Now, decide between us and this ungrateful nation.”  God said, “Don’t feel so sad about them. This land was for them, but they will not get it for 40 years. During this period they will keep roaming in the desert.” The nation of Israelites kept moving in the desert like gypsies until all the old folks who were unable to reshape their character according to the laws of God died.  The new generation that was raised under the directions of God conquered the land after 40 years.

The Quran gives no place or time for Moses’ death.  Only his great achievements as a leader, reformer, and constantly hard- working individual for the uplift of his nation are mentioned in it.  The Quran says that Pharaoh and Haman were aware of the potentialities in the Israelites, but they wanted to suppress them so that they could never be actualized.  God raised the Israelites from a slave nation to the status of the most advanced nation of that time in the world.  He blessed them with revelation, divine guidance, a good land to live on, plenty to eat and enjoy, and above all, knowledge.  All these gifts changed their status among the nations of the world and established them as the most advanced nation of that time.