Sign up to TorahFax

B"H

Monday, Tevet 20, 5785 / January 20, 2025

 

In this week’s Parsha, Va’eira, the second in the Book of Exodus (S’hmot), the Torah tells about seven of the ten plagues which G-d brought upon the Egyptians.  In next week’s Parsha we will read about the last three plagues. 

 

G-d doesn’t punish without warning first. G-d sent Moshe and Aaron to warn Pharaoh to let the Jewish people go or else he and his people will endure great punishment.  After Pharaoh refused to let them go free and in fact made their work more unbearable, G-d brought the ten plagues upon the Egyptians.

 

Q.   How long was it from the first plague until the Exodus?

 

A.    Less than one year.  The warning time for each plague was three weeks and the plague itself lasted one week.

 

Q.   G-d tells Moshe, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, in order that I should increase My miracles and wonders in the Land of Egypt.”  If G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart, then why did He punish him?

 

A.   G-d hardened his heart only from the sixth plague on.  During the first five plagues Pharaoh hardened his own heart and refused to let go.  This is evident from the fact that for the first five plagues the Torah says, “He [Pharaoh] hardened his heart.”  Or it says, “His heart became hardened.”  Only from the sixth plague on does the Torah say, “G-d strengthened Pharaoh’s heart.”

 

Q.   If G-d strengthened his heart after the sixth plague, then why did he deserve to be punished?

 

A.  The ability to repent and escape punishment for one’s sins is a gift which G-d gave us.  It is not an entitlement.  It is only due to G-d’s kindness that He gives us a chance to undo our wrongs and avoid punishment. 

 

Jews were in Egypt for 210 years.  Pharaoh enslaved them for most of that time. They were tortured; they were made to work day and night doing the most exhausting work under inhumane conditions.  In addition, Pharaoh had their children thrown into the river.  Pharaoh should never have been given a chance to repent.  He should have been punished right away.  However, G-d did give him that chance by sending Moshe and Aaron to warn him to let the Jewish people go. 

 

After Pharaoh refused G-d’s warnings five times, G-d took away this privilege called repentance. G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart so that he will get his punishments which he so well deserved.

 

Q.   How old was Moshe when he came before Pharaoh and became leader of the Jewish people?

 

A.    In this Parsha we read that he was 80 years old. Never too old to start a new career...

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

 

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW