The Seven Plagues

In our attempt to get out of the current exile, we must apply the following lessons that emerge from the first seven plagues: We have to abandon all the false idols that society has given us (plagues one and two); preplace it with truth (plague three); recognize that we are loved by G-d (plagues four and five) and that He is in control of every aspect of the world and of our lives (plagues six and seven)..

Why not One Plague?

This week’s Torah portion of Vo’eira introduces us to the first seven of the Ten Plagues. We often think of these terrible calamities G-d visited on Pharaoh and the Egyptian people as examples of Divine retribution. Yet, if G-d wanted to punish them, there was no need for ten plagues. G-d could have eliminated them in one devastating plague. Why the need for dramatics?

In truth, G-d does not punish for the sake of punishment. The purpose of bringing the ten plagues was educational as much as it was G-d’s way of expressing His outrage at the treatment the Jewish people received from the Egyptian people. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that G-d was not simply punishing Pharaoh. The Torah states that G-d said, “and i will harden the heart of Pharaoh” (exodus 7:3). If Pharaoh deserved to be punished, why didn’t G-d merely punish him without taking away his free will?

Rather Pharaoh’s punishment was meted out by G-d measure for measure. Pharoah rebelled against G-d, saying, “Who is G-d that I should obey his voice?” Anyone who insolently refuses to recognize G-d, and thinks he can do as he pleases, deserves that G-d show him he is not his own boss.

But, the educational lessons of the plagues extend to each and every one of them. Each of the ten plagues introduced the world to another dimension of G-d and His love for the Jewish people. Education cannot come in one sweeping and overwhelming experience. There was a need for ten lessons.

What follows is but one approach to the educational value of each of the first seven plagues.

Blood and Frogs

The first plagues of blood and frogs demonstrated that the Nile was not the G-d the Egyptian people thought it was. As Rashi puts it:

“Before G-d punishes a nation He first destroys their idols.

If G-d were to crush the spirit of the people, their false beliefs would have allowed them to revert to their old ways.

Before we can punish a person who needs to be rehabilitated the person’s false gods must be exposed and eliminated.

Replacement Theology

However, merely destroying someone’s false icons does not suffice.

People who have been brainwashed by cults and deprogrammed did not fare better afterwards. You cannot destroy someone’s faith in false gods without giving them something genuine to believe in.

While the first two plagues successfully destroyed their image of the Nile as a invincible god, it was the third plague of lice, which the Egyptians could not replicate, that demonstrated that the one G-d of Israel is the only true G-d.

Now that they had a glimpse into truth they were candidates for a more advanced level of their reeducation.

G-d’s Love

The fourth and fifth plagues of the mixture of wild beasts and the plague of pestilence - which, the Torah stresses did not affect the Jewish people, expressed the love G-d has for them.

To simply tell a person how bad he or she is will not change them. Rather one must supply a positive role model to emulate.

This is what the fourth and fifth plagues accomplished that the Egyptians now realized that they should look up to the Jewish people and seethe good in them.

The sixth plague of boils, in addition to the fact that it comprised many miracles; it was the first plague which was directed against their bodies. This plague taught them that G-d is in control not only of the natural world, but also of man.

It also teaches us that before one uses corporal punishment, one should first try to threaten one’s property etc. Punishment, even when warranted, should be incremental. If minimal punishment can suffice we have no right to subject them to more intense punishment.

The Message of Unity

The seventh - and last plague discussed in this week’s Torah portion - the plague of hail constituted G-d’s ability to combine fire and water; that G-d was able to bring together two conflicting forces of nature and make peace between them. Until this plague, the Egyptians could have thought that each plague was generated by another deity in control of each of the natural forces. When they saw how fire and water, the two most diametrically opposed natural forces were brought together, they realized that there is one G-d who transcends - and can therefore unite - all the forces of nature.

In our attempt to get out of the current exile, we must apply the foregoing lessons:

We have to abandon all the false idols that society has given us (plagues one and two); preplace it with truth (plague three); recognize that we are loved by G-d (plagues four and five) and that He is in control of every aspect of the world and of our lives (plagues six and seven)..

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Voeira by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.