This Week’s Readings:
Torah: Exodus 10:1-13:16

On the Chabad website the following question was asked: “Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is this world so unfair? Please don't tell me ‘We can't understand G‑d's ways.’ I am sick of hearing that. I want an explanation.”  We all struggle with the suffering of the innocent, and we have all heard reasons why God allows such situations to occur. But what about when God decides to actually destroy someone: is this justice?

In the Torah portion we read a very peculiar situation with the opening verses. God Himself is planning to harden Pharaoh’s heart. Perhaps, you have not noticed earlier, but throughout last week’s parasha, Va’era, Pharaoh was hardening his own heart (or his heart was “hardened”). God was not involved according to the text until the beginning of Parshat Bo. So, one might ask: How could God do this to Pharaoh? What was Pharaoh supposed to do now!? God was planning to destroy him! This is true. There was nothing that Pharaoh could do at this point. He had “passed…the point of no return…the final threshold…”m It was only when God completely decimated Pharaoh and his household that he let the people go (not including what happens at the Red Sea in next week’s parasha). It appears that Pharaoh’s continuation in pursuinf sin resulted in God using Pharaoh for His glory … to Pharaoh’s own demise.

by Mark Rantz, leader of Congregation Rosh Pina, Maryland

Beginning with Parashat Shemot, and continuing into Parashat Va'era, the theme of rescue and redemption is established as not only a motif for the Book of Exodus, but also as a model for the rest of Scripture. In Parashat Shemot we hear God's heart, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering" (Ex. 3:7). Likewise in Va'era Adonai continues, "I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving and I will remember my covenant" (Ex. 6:5).

Theologian Dr. Forrest Weiland summarizes this central biblical theme: "The redemption, formation and preparation of the Hebrews to worship God comprise the major theme of the Book of Shemot. Whereas Bereshit reveals the origins of the chosen nation, the Book of Shemot explains how the Abrahamic family came to be a nation. God created the nation by supernaturally redeeming and delivering Abraham's family from slavery in Egypt. He delivered the Hebrews (Exodus 1-18) in order to establish His own rule (Exodus 19-24) and to be worshipped by His chosen people (Exodus 25-40)."

Whether it be in the Akedah with the ram in the thicket, in our deliverance from Egypt after 400 years of servitude under Pharaoh, or culminating with the coming of Yeshua our Mashiach as Hashem's final sacrifice, this theme of rescue and redemption is replete throughout the whole of Scripture.