There was so much going on in the Parsha I didn’t know what to do! So, let’s talk plagues and hearts. You see, when I read the portion for the first time this week I saw two men, Pharaoh and Moses, duking it out over the Jewish people being let free. Pharaoh says no. Moses goes back to G-d and says “See! I told you he wasn’t gonna do it!” And then G-d creates a plague. Then, I read it again (with a little help from commentary, I am not going to lie) But only then did it become clear that Pharaoh and Moses were mere pawns in something great playing out. You see, G-d was in control the entire time (isn’t he always?). Through the millennia G-d has given us choices. He doesn’t just do what he wants. He lets us make our own decisions. That is what a loving G-d does right?
God tells Moses to confront Pharaoh about letting the Jewish people go. Even though Moses doesn’t think it is going to work. Even though he thinks he will just be laughed at. He chooses to follow G-d’s orders. Ding-ding! Right decision number 1! I have to give it to Moses. I am not sure I would have the guts to go in front of the Pharaoh and be like “Yo, G-d said let my people go or else!” I mean, let’s be honest here, that does sound kind of wacky.” Moses does it anyway. Of course Pharaoh says no. Let a prisoner walk up to a guard and say that and see how far it gets him.
My personal belief is that G-d is giving Pharaoh the opportunity to make a wise choice and just let the Jewish people go. Wrong decision number 1! He didn’t let the people go, so the river was turned to blood. The important part about the wording in this section is “Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.” G-d didn’t do anything to Pharaoh. Pharaoh hardened his own heart and didn’t listen to Moses and Aaron’s plea. So, after the water is turned to blood, Moses returns and asks again to let the Jewish people go. Again the Torah says that Pharaoh hardens his own heart and ignores their plea. Frogs. Plea. Hardened heart. Lice. Plea. Hardened heart. Flies. Plea. Hardened heart. Dead cattle. No lie, it played out just like that.
Then, something strange happens in the wording of this story. You see Moses goes back and pleas… but it isn’t Pharaoh that hardens his own heart it is G-d. For the first five plagues G-d allows Pharaoh to choose. He allows Pharaoh to basically sink his own ship, because after 5 attempts G-d now says “You know what, you didn’t listen. You didn’t open your heart for my people, so now I will not open my heart to you.” G-d gave Pharaoh the choice to feel sympathy for the people and let them go. He chose poorly five times. Five! My mom and dad never, I mean NEVER, gave me five chances to redeem myself. So, for the last five plagues G-d no longer gives Pharaoh the choice. He hardens his heart and the Egyptians must suffer.
G-d is forever in our lives. He is forever watching, listening, and caring. It is our choice to do the right things in life. When the right answer is right in front of us, why do we sometimes choose the wrong answer? That will forever be a question in my mind. I think that is probably one of the mystery answers of the universe. What this portion does tell us that when G-d is speaking to us telling us to do the right thing, like Moses sticking up for his people, we should listen. Sometimes it will be hard. I don’t think it was the easiest thing for Moses to go up to the Pharaoh and demand the release of his people. Heck, I hope G-d never asks such a thing of me.
Sometimes it is those simple things in life that we know that G-d is telling us to go one way, and we are being stubborn and going the other. I am guilty! I think this is also a warning that G-d will allow us to choose on our own, but when it comes to his will being done… it’s going to be done. We can either go with it, or get our butts kicked, and still have his will be done. I’d like to say I am going to save myself a good amount of butt kicking by just going with G-d’s flow, but we all know that it is human nature to test the divine and be so darn difficult.
So, the next time you have to make a decision and you hear HaShem BLARING the answer in your ear. Take a second listen. Think before committing. Because after that he might not give you the choice, and I wouldn’t want anyone to have to deal with the frogs.
Shabbat Shalom.