Parshat Va’era

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Parshat Va’era
Exodus 6:2 - 9:35; Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21; Rev 16:1-21

Earlier in the deliverance narrative, we are introduced to the notion that three demonstrations of a truth will suffice to persuade the targeted audience. As human beings, we are unable to change the pattern of out thinking and therefore, our deeds, through just one single event. But, when there is a pattern of threes, it becomes possible to transform our minds, attitudes and therefore, our deeds! 
 

When Moshe asks God for a sign through which he can prove the veracity of his divine agency (Exo 4:1), God gives him three signs (staff, scale-disease, blood) as proof of HaShem’s power and ability to act in redemptive history. As God Himself says, the goal of these signs is:
"This," said YHVH, "is so that they may believe that YHVH, the God of their fathers -the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzchak and the God of Ya'akov -has appeared to you." (Exodus 4:5)

Note that this "message" and goal of the three signs is given subsequent to the first sign - as if to say: Moshe, the purpose of this entire series which has just begun is to establish your credentials as My messenger. In the same way, each step in Pharaoh's education took three signs/plagues to be accomplished, allowing him to move on to the next step. The goal was the complete renewal of Pharaoh’s mind and heart that he was not a god but a mere mortal, a created being.

• The first set of 3 plagues - blood, wild beasts and hail.

They follow a pattern - early morning warning at the Nile river, theological message - and then the plague. Why was the warning at the river in the morning? Ibn Ezra and Rashbam point out that the river was a spot where the king would take walks - and where the people would be present, watching him as he sojourned. I would like to suggest that since the Nile was considered a divinity in Egypt, the Pharaoh was likely involved in some form of worship at the banks of the river early in the morning. Moshe's confrontation of Pharaoh in the middle of a worship service, in front of his priests and the people, became a public statement and challenge to the entire Egyptian culture and belief system.

This warning was the preface to all three plagues in the set - including a public declaration and the theological lesson of these three plagues.

• The second set of 3 plagues - frogs, pestilence and locusts.

These also has a consistent pattern: Warning in the palace with no theological message - and then the plague.

In these cases, Mosheh challenges and warns Pharaoh in his palace - there is no need for either public declaration or a theological message, as these have already been given at the beginning of the set. The warning, however, was still given to show Pharaoh that the upcoming plague was part of that same system.

• The final set of 3 plagues - lice, boils and darkness.

These also have a pattern: No warning at all - just a plague.

At this point, the message and warning are moot - Pharaoh needs to internalize the lesson of the series. In this sense, the plagues are opportunities extended to Pharaoh by a merciful and loving G-d, urging him to turn from his wicked ways, to repent of his belief that he was a god and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Yet, although urged on by his own people in his own palace, Pharaoh hardened his heart and thus, he unknowingly facilitated the climactic moment of this entire process – the death of the first born and the necessity for the application of blood!

Col 2:16-17
“These things are shadows of the greater things yet to come; but the substance belongs to Messiah” (my paraphrase)

I believe that the this pivotal event in redemptive history sets the pattern for all future redemptive acts!