03 February, 2001
10 Shevat, 5761
Focus Passage: Exodus 10:1 - 20
Nothing Green Remained
A twofold purpose was stated for the plague of locusts and the other plagues. One purpose was that G-d could "display these My signs" (v1). A "sign" points to a meaning beyond itself. What G-d was doing was not just showing G-d's power but proclaiming G-d's absolute sovereignty. Secondly, the plagues were used so that Israel should "recount" (experience) (v2) the sovereignty of G-d and bear witness to it in future generations. G-d's acts are always witnesses to G-d's Kingship. When we have observed them and experienced them, we are expected to bear witness to them.
In the light of the overall context, we should note the statement "I made a mockery of the Egyptians" (v2). It is obvious that G-d has not just been playing with the Egyptians. This had been a deadly serious contest between the gods of Egypt and the G-d of Israel. But the pitiful, puny efforts of the Egyptians on behalf of their gods had been a laughing matter. In a very real sense, the context of the plagues was a historical equivalent of the song of Israel's worship which said: "He who is enthroned in heaven laughs, the L-rd mocks at them." (Psalm 2:4) or, as the Yiddish puts it: "Der mensch trakht un G-t lakht", that is : "Man thinks and G-d laughs."
Again Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh with the divine warning. There was a new dimension to this warning, put in the form of a question: "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me?" (v. 3). This was quite a demand for a man who was considered by both his people and himself to be divine. The god-King of Egypt was being called upon for submission to the G-d of his slaves. it would have been a very strange demand except for the fact of what had happened in the preceding plagues. The underlying question was whether Pharaoh had learned anything from the first seven plagues. In our understanding of numbers, seven is a complete number. From Israel's standpoint, seven plagues should have been enough, -but this was not to be. Think of how differently the Torah would "sound" if the Pharaoh had said "Yes" to G-d on the first approach of Moses.
Shalom U'Vracha,
Thomas, Greta, and Talie
