Parshat Vayera; Exodus 6:2-9:35 by Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This parsha begins with a recounting of the story from the previous week—God’s call to Moses and revelation of the Divine four-letter name. This recounting omits the drama of the burning bush and merely reports the basic conversation that links God to the ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And although they called this God by another name—El Shaddai, indeed this is the same God they knew. God also acknowledges to Moses that God has heard the moaning of the Israelites enslaved by the Egyptians. It seems to have awakened God to the covenantal promise made so long ago.

Verses 6-8 of Chapter six will seem familiar to all who have celebrated a Passover Seder meal. God promises to free, deliver, redeem, take and bring the people Israel to freedom and the promised land of the covenant. Each of these promises is associated with one of the four cups of wine and the fifth untasted cup at the Seder meal.

Chapter seven of Exodus in parasha Vayera begins by once again confirming Moses mission to Pharaoh to free the Israelites. God seems to coach Moses and Aaron on exactly what they need to do before Pharaoh. God tells Moses to tell Aaron to throw down his staff before the Pharaoh and God will turn it to a snake. God orchestrates the scenario between the Egyptian king and Moses the Egyptian prince turned Hebrew liberator and follower of God. Each interchange between Moses and Pharaoh serves to elevate God’s power over the magic and religion of Egypt and God’s control of Pharaoh’s responses (by stiffening his heart) unmasks the false god premise of the Pharaoh. Thus the encounter and the plagues begin as with each pleading to free the people Israel only stiffens Pharaoh’s resolve to keep the Israelites enslaved. The first seven plagues, of the River Nile turning to blood, the frogs, the vermin, the wild animals, the pestilence, boils and hail.

There have been many analyses of the plagues, searching them for some logical explanation. But one can also look at each of these plagues as also a way to cut down the gods and goddesses of ancient Egyptian religion so that the monotheism of Israelite religion reigns supreme.

Several times God shows the Egyptians and the Pharaoh that indeed the Israelites are so beloved and protected that the plagues will not affect the Israelites only the Egyptians
In chapter 8 the text says, “ But on that day I will set apart the region of Goshen, where My people swell so that no swarms of insect shall be there, that you may know that I, Adonai am in the midst of the land. And I will make a distinction between My people and your people.” Further with the plague of pestilence the livestock of the Egyptians are the ones affected, not the Israelites’ livestock. And again with the plagues of hail, “Only in the region of Goshen, where the Israelites were there was no hail.” (v. 9:26)

Each of the seven plagues as described in this parasha build in severity. They do display the might of Adonai and the lengths to which this God will protect the people Israel. Pharaoh is however a slow learner and is not used to having to make decisions under such duress. Thus as the drama concludes next week, in Parshat Bo, we will see that Pharaoh’s stubbornness, and hardened heart will be his family’s undoing – with the death of his own firstborn son. This is indeed a steep price to pay—the future of the Pharaonic throne, and indeed all of Egypt for a few slaves.

Posted by Lee at January 6, 2005 01:05 PM