As we'll read tommorow morning, when Moses and Aaron were standing in front of Pharaoh, Aaron miraculously transformed his staff into a snake, a great Miracle proclaiming the divine origin of their mission to Pharoah.
Great stuff; but not for long. Pharaoh's sorcerers immediately duplicated the trick producing the same snakes, threatening what seems to be Aaron's secure demonstration of divine strength. But instead of Aaron standing back, his staff then went on to swallow the all the snakes of the Pharoah.
But whose staff was it; Moshe's or Aaron's?
The Abarbanel and Rashi both would seem to follow the simple understanding of the verse that it was Aaron's. Perhaps that's because Aaron was known as someone who put his love for others before anything. His approach was overflowing love and concern. That's why only he was able to swallow his adversaries in his favor.
Rashi even quotes the Talmud that says that before it swallowed the others it had reversed into being a staff again. That might teach us that so long that you're "a snake" with a sense of venom (anger, frustration, scorn) at other people, you'll never succeed in inspiring them to join you.
Only when you follow Aaron; a premises of unconditional love, with a staff (not a snake); consistent and straightforward vision, will inspire those around you to learn from the positive contributions that you can and must share with the rest of us.
Wishing you a Shabbos of straightforward love for others,
Rabbi Chaim
ChabadTexas.org Editor