Midras Yesaya 27:4: Otzar Midrashim, Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Midrash Tanchuma Buber & Midrash Tanchuma

Blessed be the name of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, who lives and endures forever and ever. As it says "But as I live" (Numbers 14:21) and "The Lord God is truth" (Jeremiah 10:10). He sees births and knows what will happen in the future, as it says "Declaring the end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10). And no one can oppose Him, as it says "There is no one who can stay His hand" (Daniel 4:32).

When Israel does His will, there is no rage before Him, as it says "I have no [divine] rage" (Isaiah 27:4). But when Israel does not do His will, as it were there is rage before Him, as it says "The Lord's wrath flared up." When Israel does His will, He does not sleep before Him, as it says "Behold, He neither slumbers nor sleeps." But when Israel does not do His will, as it were "He awoke as one who had slept" (Psalms 78:65).

We are taught in Baraitha that R. Joshua b. Karcha says: "Circumcision is so important that all the merits which Moses our teacher acquired were not sufficient to protect him in the hour when he was indifferent to circumcision, as it is said (Ex. 4, 24) And it came to pass on the way at the lodging place, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him." R. Josi says: "God forbid to think that Moses was slow in circumcising his child, but Moses said thus to himself: 'Shall I circumcise [my child] and then go on my journey, it might prove dangerous to it, as it is written (Gen. 34, 25) And it came to pass on the third day, [after the circumcision, when they were sore. Shall I circumcise my child and remain here three days [until it heals,] the Holy One, praised be He! said unto me (Ex. 4, 19) Go return unto Egypt! [Consequently, he left his child uncircumcised.] But why then was he punished? Because when he arrived at the inn he attended (Fol. 32) to things concerning the lodging first, [and did not perform the circumcision,] as it is said (Ib. ib.) And it came to pass on the way in the lodging." Rabban Simon b. Gamiliel says: "Satan did not want to kill Moses our teacher, but he wanted to kill the child, as it is said (Ib., ib., 25) Surely a bloody relative art thou to me. Now let us see who is called a relative, Moses, or the infant? Surely we must say that it refers to the infant." R. Juda b. Z'bina lectured: "At the time when Moses was indifferent to circumcision, the angels Aph and Chemah came and swallowed him, and they left nothing of him except the legs. Immediately, then Zipporah took a flint and cut off the foreskin of her son, etc., and then he withdrew from him. And Moses then wanted to kill them (the angels), as it is said (Ps. 37, 8) Cease from anger, (aph) and forsake wrath (Chemah)." Others, however, say that he did not kill the Angel Chemah, as it is said (Ez. 27, 4) Wrath (Chema) have I not. Behold it is written (Deut. 9, 19) For I was afraid of the anger (Aph), and the wrath [Chemah], hence they did exist? We must therefore say that there were two angels called Chemah. And if you wish we may explain that the latter refers only to the troop commanded by Chemah.