Pharoah Like an Alcoholic

Rabbi Twerski compares Pharoah’s behavior during the plagues, to that of an alcoholic. In Parshat וארא, we learn of the first seven plagues rained down on Egypt.

Each time, there is a warning before the plague. The warning is not heeded, and the devastating plague arrives. Pharoah begs for the plague to stop and then breaks his promise, and more devastation follows.

The alcoholic is warned that he better get help with his horrible addiction. He ignores the warning. His personal plague is that he first loses his job. This is not enough until his wife leaves him. He continues ignoring those wishing to help, and he loses his home and all his assets. It is only when he hits rock bottom and is homeless, that he wakes up.

Egypt is hit extremely hard. It is no longer the superpower it once was. Only when Pharoah loses his precious first born son, does he put aside his obstinance.

We must learn from this episode that when we find ourselves in a bad way, we should get help right away. Being in denial, only makes matters worse. It then becomes that much more difficult to pick up the pieces and fix things.