Moshe wanted to enter the land of Israel and build the Temple. However, at the time of the sin of the Golden Calf and again with the spies, Moshe asked G-d to eternally forgive the Jews. The Midrash explains that these two requests are exclusive. If Moshe had built the Temple its spiritual perfection would have prevented its destruction. This would have been a problem, because when the Jews would eventually sin, atonement would have to be achieved. Either G-d would take His wrath out upon the “sticks and stones” of the Beit HaMikdash or the accounting would be upon the flesh of the people. The physical Beit HaMikdash was the safety valve to preserve the Jewish people. If Moshe had built the Temple, it would still be standing today, but we as a people might no longer exist.
Moshe’s requests to G-d were so forceful that had he continued praying his fate would have been changed and he would have brought Israel into the land. He was therefore told by G-d to stop praying! Since Moshe’s prime objective was the preservation of his people, he stopped and accepted his fate.
The lesson taught to us by Moshe Rabbainu, as explained by the Nachlat Tzvi, is to never give up asking for mercy even if the end seems assured. If the prayer is strong enough, it will change reality. Moshe put everything on the line: he held nothing back, not even his eternal soul. He was fully focused and committed to his goal. Had he offered just one more prayer, our rabbis tell us, his fate would have changed. But being the servant of G-d and a leader par excellence, he sacrificed himself for the good of his people.
When we beseech G-d, we have a tendency to question why something happened. This approach can easily devolve into blaming G-d. It is most beneficial if we approach G-d with a feeling of thanks in our heart and appreciation for what He has given us despite our current crisis. We must come with an understanding that although the situation is terribly difficult the only path is through it; we will come out better people. We can structure our prayers to ask for mercy and assistance in learning our lessons quickly and painlessly. We understand we must learn, but we ask for it to be with kindness and gentleness.
Imagine you have given gifts to a friend and he displays no gratitude or thanks. Perhaps he even quietly mutters under his breath that he doesn’t like what you gave him. Then, one day he asks for a gift; how would you feel? Would you be excited? Probably not. All you could expect in return is negativity.
If we do not thank Hashem for the life He has granted us, for the goodness we have experienced and the enormous life lessons we have merited to learn, how can we turn to Him and ask for anything? If we complain about what we have received, how can we even ask for a crumb?
Gratitude is known to have the highest vibrational frequency. The blessings we say every day over food and in our davening all express this elevated frequency. Our rabbis tell us that simply reciting the words of our prayers has a powerful effect. The more we know and understand, the more focus and intention we put into our prayers, the more powerful they are.
The Meshech Chachma explains that there are two types of prayer: one for easily reached or close targets and the other for far away targets. Prayer can be like a sword: a person does not need to be an expert to cut what is close to him. But of course, a talented swordsman will be most effective for short-range targets. Prayer can impact results close at hand.