Moshe's Objection to G-d's Threat

G-d’s well-known love for the Jews, demonstrates that the reason for the Jews’ “shechita” (taking them out of this world), would be a punishment done for their benefit in order to atone for their multiple sins. Therefore, to counter that possible action Moshe offered a practical objection that the non-Jews might misunderstand why HaShem did so in the desert.

(לקוטי שיחות כרך כג, עמ' 69)