Pharoah’s Mistake

The biggest mistake Pharoah made in the entire story of the exodus from Egypt, was the question that he would deeply regret.

He arrogantly asked, “Who is Hashem that I should listen to Him and let this people go?” When someone asks such a foolish question, he will be taught in a way that he would never dare ask such a question.

Each plague is surrounded with the purpose as to why this plague fell upon Egypt. It was in order that “they will know that I am G-d.”

In other words, these supernatural plagues were meant to make it clear that there is only one true G-d in the world. The history of the world never witnessed such a phenomenon where one nation was taken from the clutches of another nation as was witnessed in Egypt.

Throughout history there were many arrogant leaders who believed that they were all powerful and invincible. All of them rose, but all of them fell.

Titus was an example of one who believed he could challenge Hashem in battle. He said that he was willing to acknowledge that Hashem had power on the sea, but he doubted if He had such power on land. The challenge ended very quickly when Hashem sent a gnat up his nose that tormented him for a long period of time. He couldn’t even overcome a small insect.

The last line of the famous movie, “The Ten Commandments” ended with Yul Brynner, who played Pharoah, saying the simple words, “The G-d of Moses, is G-d!”

The world needs to learn this lesson that Pharoah learned the hard way. If they don’t recognize that the G-d of Israel is the One who rules the world, they will recognize it sooner or later. It will be much more pleasant for them, if they recognize this sooner, rather than later.