Timeless Torah

At first it seemed to be a confrontation between right and. might, with Moses representing the former and Pharaoh the latter. When the tyrant not only refused to liberate the Jews but responded by making it worse, it seemed that might would triumph. It was at that point, bondage’s blackest hour, that G-d turned the tables and displayed a little Divine might of His own.

The commentaries point out that during the first five plagues, Egypt’s ruler was given the chance to willfully listen to G-d and release the Jews from slavery. However, starting with the sixth plague, G-d, in some measure, removed Pharaoh’s free will, as the verse succinctly states, “G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Ostensibly, the reason for G-d’s intervention in what is usually the affair of man - freedom of choice - is so that the world’s most powerful ruler would become Heavan’s unwitting tool for proclaiming to all nations, “There is none like Me on all the earth!”

But this premise, accepted by all who have seriously studied the Biblical text, raise the following question. Considering that Pharaoh still had the freedom to choose for the first five plagues, what would have happened if he had listened to G-d’s wishes and released the Jews after the first plague? Or what would have occurred had the king of Egypt conceded right from the start obliterating any need for plagues? True the Jews would have been freed, but what about the big PR splash? Who would have declared, “There is none like Me on all the earth!”

Following this possible scenario, other questions need to be addressed, such as, a yielding Pharaoh would have rendered the Parting of the Sea and its moment of glory moot. But the most difficult issue is this: A repentant Egypt must mean that the king who bathed in the blood of Jewish children, the soldiers who tossed innocent infants into the Nile, as well as the cruel taskmasters would never have been punished for the 116 years of enslavement and persecution.

Divine justice would have never been revealed, and the likes of Jethro (father-in-law of Moses) who would not have witnessed the awesome power of Hashem might never have been influenced to join our people. After enduring the merciless oppression for so many years, would it have been right that Egypt should receive no punishment?

Divine justice has nothing to do with revenge. Justice’s intent is to create an environment conducive to having a relationship with G-d. Revenge, on the other hand, is a purposeless and destructive feeling we are forbidden to entertain. True, evil must be deterred and punishment is one method for doing so. But its application is meant for us to recognize the Master Hand of G-d. Imagine what the affect on the world would have been had Pharaoh immediately capitulated.

It would have been the like the story of Jonah in Nineveh, whose King upon hearing the warning, “In 40 days G-d will destroy Nineveh,” stepped down from his throne, rent his royal garments, put on sack cloth and ashes and proclaimed G-d’s absolute majesty. (Bear in mind the Midrash says that the King of Nineveh was Pharaoh.) There was no need for miracles and wonders. In fact, the greatest expression of G-d’s dominion was the acquiescence of the king and his acceptance of Jonah’s prophecy.

Egypt was the mightiest nation of that time, and Pharaoh the mightiest ruler. Imagine the utter amazement of all the nations, if Pharaoh would have proclaimed from the very outset, “I have sinned; G-d is the righteous one, and I and my people, we are the guilty ones.” After 200 years of intense persecution, and countless crimes against humanity, Pharaoh suddenly found religion? However, if the purpose of all the miracles was to proclaim G-d’s unbounded majesty that would have been the greatest miracle of all!
Moreover, had Egypt willfully agreed to free the Jews, the era of Mashiach would have begun. Pharaoh, at the head of the most powerful army on earth, would have escorted the Jews along the edge of the Mediterranean directly into Israel. The trip would have taken less than a week and the Egyptians would have then subdued the inhabitants of Canaan allowing the Jews to settle the land without lifting a sword! That would have been a miracle (fulfilling Noah’s promise, “A slave to slaves”)!
Above all would have been G-d’s display of forgiveness and purpose. G-d has no need for vengeance. G-d only desires awareness and acceptance of His plan. Regardless of the prior slavery and persecution G-d would have lovingly forgiven Pharaoh and Egypt had they truly repented! One moment of willful, uncompelled obedience would have effected forgiveness for the Egyptians, salvation for the world, and redemption for the Jews.