Even though, as we will see, Moses gave Pharaoh the honor due a king and spoke to him respectfully, he made no compromises in his demands concerning the people’s spiritual and physical needs. He spoke with “the staff of G‑d in his hand,” i.e., with authority and determination.
The lesson for us here is that whenever we are confronted with an “Egyptian king,” i.e., someone who seeks to impose upon us elements of a lifestyle that goes against our values and principles – whether through kindness or force – we must recognize the inherent danger in succumbing to such pressure. In the end, this Pharaoh will tell us to drown ourselves (or our children) in material culture. We must therefore respectfully but resolutely insist on living according to the Torah’s values.1
Join the Discussion