Midrasch zu Schemot 33:17

Another matter, “that the race is not to the swift” – this is Moses; yesterday he flew to the sky and ascended like a bird, as it is stated: “Moses ascended to God” (Exodus 19:3), but today, “as you will not be crossing this Jordan” (Deuteronomy 3:27); he was not allowed to cross even a tract of fifty cubits.
“And the war is not to the valiant” – this is Moses. Yesterday, “The kings of hosts flee again and again” (Psalms 68:13). What is “again and again”? They flee on the way there, and flee on the way back.⁷¹At the giving of the Torah, the angels flew back and forth in fear while Moses stood calmly on the mountain. Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Aivu: Ministering angels is not written here, but rather kings of hosts; even the kings of the angels, Mikhael and Gavriel, were afraid of Moses. Now, he is unable to look at even the weakest soldiers; that is what is written: “For I was terrified due to the wrath and the fury” (Deuteronomy 9:19).
“Also bread is not to the wise” – this is Moses. Yesterday, he became a minister and an official in Pharaoh’s palace, as it is stated: “Moses was grown up, and he went out to his brethren” (Exodus 2:11). What is [the meaning of the statement that Moses] “was grown up”? It was that his greatness was to bring in and to take out.⁷²He was in charge of providing food for Pharaoh’s household. But today, “call him and let him eat bread” (Exodus 2:20).
“And also wealth is not to the clever” – this is Moses. From where did the wealth come to him, such that he became wealthy? Rabbi Ḥanin said: The Holy One blessed be He revealed to him a sapphire quarry inside his tent and he found it. It is from there that Moses became wealthy, as it is stated: “Carve for yourself [pesol lekha]” (Exodus 34:1); its residue [pesilatan] shall be for you. But today, none of that wealth remains.
“And also favor is not to the knowledgeable” – this is Moses. Yesterday, “as you have found favor in my eyes” (Exodus 33:17), and today, “do not continue to speak to Me anymore about this matter” (Deuteronomy 3:26).
“But rather, time and chance [vafega] befalls them all.” It is time that harms the person and undermines him in all these matters, and he is injured [mafgia]. What shall he do? He shall go and engage in prayer and supplication, and he will be saved. Rav Huna asked Shmuel, he said to him: ‘What is this that is written: “But rather time and chance [vafega]”?’ [Shmuel] said to him: ‘At times a person entreats in prayer and is answered, at times he entreats and is not answered, as you have no one who arranged prayers and supplications more than Moses our master, and ultimately it was stated to him: “Behold, your days to die are approaching” (Deuteronomy 31:14).’⁷³Moses prayed many times, and intensely, that he be permitted to enter the land of Israel, yet he died without being allowed to do so.