Musar zu Dewarim 31:14

(Ibid. 4:1): "And Moses answered and he said: 'But they will not believe me, and they will not hearken to my voice; for they will say: 'The L-rd did not appear to you.'" (Ibid. 2): "And the L-rd said to him: 'What is this in your hand?' And he said: 'A staff.'" Why did G-d hold this against Moses? Should he not have questioned as he did? I heard from the Gaon, R. Eliyahu Schick, of blessed memory, that He took exception to the words "But 'Hen' they will not believe me," stated categorically. He should have said "Perhaps they will not believe me." [This explains what our sages of blessed memory said: "When the Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses (Devarim 31:14): "Hen your days have drawn near to die," Moses replied: "With 'Hen' did I praise You (viz. Ibid. 10:14): "Hen, to the L-rd your G-d are the heavens and the heavens of the heavens, etc.") and with 'Hen' do You answer me?" The L-red replied: "But you also said: 'But Hen they will not believe me.'" Ostensibly, this is unexplainable; but, according to the above interpretation, the meaning is clear: The Holy One Blessed be He said to him: "'Hen' your days have drawn near to die" — categorically. This was very difficult for Moses to accept, and he answered: "But I praised You with 'Hen," and do You answer me with 'Hen'!" And to this the L-rd replied, that this is "measure for measure" for his also having said 'Hen' [categorically].