January 24 – Vaera – Exodus 6:2 – Exodus 9::35
Summary: Once again God introduces God’s self to Moses with the unknowable name. God promises freedom for the people. Moses and Aaron go before Pharaoh and ask Pharoah to let the people go. The story of 10 plagues begins…the first seven appear in this week’s portion. After each plague Pharaoh’s heart is hardened.
Lesson: Our portion this week is all action. The first plagues take place and the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh ensues – the plot for a good movie!
Blood. Frogs. Lice. Insects. Pestilence. And yet Pharoah refuses to free the Israelites.
However, in Exodus 7:3 it is actually God who says, “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that I may multiply My signs and marvels in the land of Egypt.” Strange…is it actually God who is responsible for Pharaoh’s hard heart?
The plagues are clearly evidence of God’s absolute power. The Egyptians learn of God’s power in a painful way. However the Israelite slaves are also witness to God’s strength.
At the very end of this portion God says: “I have spared you for this purpose: in order to show you My power, and in order that My fame may resound throughout the world” (Exodus 9:16). .Here God teaches us that even the Israelites had to learn of God’s power.
For over 400 years the Israelites have been slaves. They only know oppression. For generations they have been demoralized and dehumanized. Over the years of their slavery they have been distant from God. They are used to not having God around. After 400 years it would have been difficult for them to believe that God would save them.
After witnessing God’s power in the first set of plagues, the Israelites come to know a God who is present in their lives, an all-powerful god, a God who could actually free them from slavery. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart to force the Egyptians to free the Israelites. God hardens Pharoah’s heart so that our people could come to know the all-powerful God who would redeem us then and journey with us for thousands of years to come
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Goor