The Oral Talmud with Benay Lappe and Dan Libenson Episode 145

Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: When Moses ascended on High, he found the Blessed Holy One sitting and tying crowns on the letters. He said before Him: Master of the Universe, who is holding You back? He said to him: There is a man who is destined to be after several generations, and Akiva ben Yosef is his name; he is destined to derive from each and every thorn mounds upon mounds of halakhot. He said before Him: Master of the Universe, show him to me. He said to him: Return behind you. He went and sat at the end of the eighth row and did not understand what they were saying. He felt faint. When he arrived at one matter, his students said to him: My teacher, from where do you derive this? He said to them: It is a halakha to Moses from Sinai. His mind was put at ease. He returned and came before the Holy Blessed One, and said before Him: Master of the Universe, You have a man like this and You give the Torah through me?! He said to him: Be silent; this is what arose in My mind. Moses said before God: Master of the Universe, You have shown me his Torah, now show me his reward. He said to him: Return. He went back and saw that they were weighing his flesh in a butcher shop [bemakkulin]. He said before Him: Master of the Universe, this is Torah and this is its reward? He said to him: Be silent; this is what arose in My mind.