Re: Moses smart or dope?
Ha'shem chose Moses, who was a man humbled by a life-long speech impediment, to speak to the world's most powerful leader...Pharoah of Egypt.
Moses at first desisted this choice...he being "thick of speech" felt unworthy. This shows both Moses' humble nature, as well as his wisdom.
When Ha'Shem looked around for someone to do His work for Him (the liberation of the Hebrews from bondage in Egypt followed by their receiving Torah and becoming a sovereign nation), and He chose Moses, then He must have known "the right man, at the right place, for the right job".
If Ha'Shem felt a "dope" was the best choice, so be it.
Would that we had more of such Jewish dopes walking the planet today!
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[jokingly]...who but a dope would put up with a bunch of unruly Hebrews for longer than 10 minutes?
[ironically]...only a dope would have argued directly with G-d, begging him to not kill the Hebrews when in fact they well deserved such a punishment!
[realistically]...it's a good thing there were no central air & heat thermostats during that 40 years in wandering!....the Hebrews would have extended the time to 140 years; what with their constant fighting each other to "change the temperature"!