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Va'eira- Denying the Truth
For this year’s Parsha Lesson I will be applying the lesson that can be derived from the Dvar Torah to the world as we know it today.
Background
At the beginning, when Hashem appeared to Moshe by the burning bush, Hashem told Moshe that Pharoah will not listen to him and that he would not even be able to be forced with a ‘strong’ hand to send the Jewish people out. In this week’s parsha, Moshe and Aharon go to Pharoah and confront him over the slavery of the Jewish people to demand their freedom.
Hashem prepared Moshe for this confrontation by telling him to use his staff to show the Egyptians that while they may have the knowledge of black magic, and while they may be able to do certain things, Moshe comes as the representative of the Creator of the world, the G-d of the Jewish people, and He demands that you free His people.
After both Aharon and the magicians turned their staffs into snakes, Aharon’s swallowed up the other magician’s “snakes”. This miracle, clear evidence of the Creator of the world, should have been enough to convince Pharoah to listen. But Pharoah refused. Pharoah ‘hardened’ his heart and sent Moshe and Aharon out of his palace without paying any heed to the word of Hashem, the Creator of the world, commanding him to free the Jewish people.
Again, immediately after Moshe and Aharon left Pharoah, Hashem told Moshe that Pharoah was hardening his heart and that is why he was not complying.
Question
Why did Hashem need to tell this to Moshe? Of what purpose did it serve in the story? Hashem does not do anything ‘randomly’ or just to ‘fill Moshe in’ on what was going, needless to say- to record in the Torah the constant messaging and reminder that Hashem told Moshe that Pharoah would not listen.
So why was it that Hashem first informed Moshe, and then kept repeating to Moshe, that Pharoah will harden his heart and he will not listen?
Answer
The Chizkuni (R’ Chizkiyah b. Manoach, approx. 1250-1310, France) explains that Hashem informed Moshe of Pharoah’s obstinance in order that Moshe should not become discouraged and be ‘faint of heart’ at Pharoah’s constant refusal to be swayed. Time and again, Moshe would come to Pharoah with clear signs and directives from Hashem, the Creator of the world- which testified to Hashem’s existence and capabilities- but nevertheless Pharoah refused to be budged.
When Moshe would see this, when Moshe would be confronted at the repeated failure of his attempts to sway Pharoah- Moshe may become dejected and discouraged in his mission. Hashem wanted Moshe to be fully ‘in’ and fully confident and encouraged in his leadership and therefore Hashem needed to inform Moshe ahead of time in order that Moshe would be strengthened and know what to expect.
Lesson for our world
There are a number of very meaningful and important lessons that one can learn from this. But perhaps the most striking lesson, and certainly the one most applicable to the world we find ourselves in, is the particular challenge of seeing something clear and objectively ‘the truth’, being ignored by those for whom that truth ‘doesn’t work’.
When Moshe came to Pharoah to show him the miracle of his staff turning into a snake, Hashem needed to tell him beforehand that Pharoah would not listen, and again immediately afterward Hashem had to reassure Moshe that Pharoah didn’t listen because he was being obstinate. What was so important about that specific encounter?
The commentators explain (Rabbeinu Bachya, Chizkuni, Seforno, etc.) that the miracle of the snake of Aharon swallowing up the snakes of the other magicians, clearly demonstrated that Moshe was a messenger of Hashem, the Creator of the world. This was undeniable and clear. Magicians can only change the appearance of things, to actually create a snake, Pharoah and his court realized, is only the domain of the true Creator of the world.
Therefore, Pharoah’s obstinance even in the face of this clear miracle and sign from Hashem, the clear and objective truth, was particularly challenging for Moshe to not get discouraged over.
In the world today, truth is not a value- it is merely a tool. And if the tool of truth is something which is inconvenient for those who desire anarchy and hedonism, then they ignore it and get their ‘messaging’ right to be able to sway people and ‘mitigate’ the impact of the truth. At times they need to use the ‘gun’ of the ‘law’, or censorship, or the public mob, as their tool; but that is all they are concerned about: their goals and their ideology and they look for the most effective tool to accomplish their aims.
When one encounters this, it is particularly disheartening. In fact, this can lead one to believe that it is just not worth the trouble, and that is better to go along with the mob in their pursuits. But one must strengthen themselves and remember that there is a G-d in this world. There is an ultimate Judge who will settle every score and set everything right. And that G-d, Hashem, just wants us to stick to our morals, values and the truth- regardless of how difficult it might be- and to live according to the ideals of the Torah. What the results are? Success or failure? Who seems to be ‘getting ahead’ and winning? That is up to Hashem.
In fact, many Baalei Mussar (Torah scholars who focus on character and moral development) teach that Hashem puts people into such difficult and trying situations- specifically to test and develop the strength of their conviction to the proper ideals.
May we all rise above the particularly challenging world we find ourselves in and remain committed and devoted to the ideals and values of the Torah, the truth.
Wishing you a wonderful Shabbos,
Rabbi Eli Meir Kramer
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