Torah Parsha this week, Va-era, has the Holy One sending Moshe and Aaron to Pharaoh to deal with. I've read these passages countless times but this time I noticed something and learned something I'd like to share with you. HaShem says to Mosheh to instruct Aaron to throw down his staff to produce the serpent contest with Pharaoh's magicians. Then Mosheh is told to instruct Aaron to put his staff in the Nile to be stricken. In the beginning these judgements are things that Pharaoh's magicians can duplicate such as the staff into a snake bit. But later, the plagues of frogs, pestilence, illness on the Egyptian livestock (but not the Israelite livestock as foretold), and the rest are things that the magicians CANNOT duplicate.
I asked myself why would the most powerful being in and beyond creation need to prove any points; why not just strike down Pharaoh and free His people straight away? Certainly the Most High could if He so choose to do so. Then my answer lit up my mind. How else can the most powerful man in the world, ruling the most powerful nation of that era learn and acknowledge that the Infinite Creator is and always will be the only Mighty One. Also, think about the Isrealites. It says in this Torah Parsha that the people were so dismayed and so long enslaved that their minds were weary. Seeing these wonders gradually built their minds back up to experience the amazing reality of HaShem's power, love, and desire to bless them. Eventually all people on earth at one point or another come face to face with this reality. Perhaps not through frogs, boils, or rivers of blood, but we certainly will all experience the lessons of the Infinite and see His power. In this Parsha we learn that Mosheh was not magical, he was a messenger and Aaron was not magical but was the bearer of the rod, yet he himself was not the source of the wonders.
Gradually we see parlor tricks like snakes and red rivers become more serious things like disease and death; the lesson is that there is only One who controls illness, life, and even death. If these types of plagues occurred to teach the most powerful nation of the world of that era, how much more will have to happen in our time for G-d to teach those with power today who abuse their abilities to duplicate the wonders of G-d, teaching the world to deny the existence and power of the Most High?
Remember the Israelites were enslaved for four hundred years and yet they were not abandoned. We are not abandoned as believers and servants of G-d and maintain our belief, not letting our minds get weary and over burdened. We look to our Tanakh for hope and strength with example after example of the Infinite's faithful love and protection for all who seek and believe.
I asked myself why would the most powerful being in and beyond creation need to prove any points; why not just strike down Pharaoh and free His people straight away? Certainly the Most High could if He so choose to do so. Then my answer lit up my mind. How else can the most powerful man in the world, ruling the most powerful nation of that era learn and acknowledge that the Infinite Creator is and always will be the only Mighty One. Also, think about the Isrealites. It says in this Torah Parsha that the people were so dismayed and so long enslaved that their minds were weary. Seeing these wonders gradually built their minds back up to experience the amazing reality of HaShem's power, love, and desire to bless them. Eventually all people on earth at one point or another come face to face with this reality. Perhaps not through frogs, boils, or rivers of blood, but we certainly will all experience the lessons of the Infinite and see His power. In this Parsha we learn that Mosheh was not magical, he was a messenger and Aaron was not magical but was the bearer of the rod, yet he himself was not the source of the wonders.
Gradually we see parlor tricks like snakes and red rivers become more serious things like disease and death; the lesson is that there is only One who controls illness, life, and even death. If these types of plagues occurred to teach the most powerful nation of the world of that era, how much more will have to happen in our time for G-d to teach those with power today who abuse their abilities to duplicate the wonders of G-d, teaching the world to deny the existence and power of the Most High?
Remember the Israelites were enslaved for four hundred years and yet they were not abandoned. We are not abandoned as believers and servants of G-d and maintain our belief, not letting our minds get weary and over burdened. We look to our Tanakh for hope and strength with example after example of the Infinite's faithful love and protection for all who seek and believe.
Psalms 121
A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?
My help cometh from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper; the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul.
The LORD shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for ever.