Last week’s Torah reading, and this week’s (Bo) focuses the quintessential journey of the Jewish people. As Israelite slaves we leave the narrowness and limits of slavery in Egypt, to the expansive freedoms that our trip through the desert to the Land of Israel would bring.
No journey, especially one of this magnitude, begins easily.
We learn several times that Pharaoh’s ‘Heart is Hardened.” That is, even after he seems to agree to let the people go, he changes his mind and retreats into familiar habits. Despite what he says, in the end, his actions are the same. In each case he chooses restrictions and prejudice.
The idea that Pharaoh’s heart is hardened is a troubling one, it seems to rob him of free choice and the ability to change. And in the best of Jewish traditions, we have struggled with this question for centuries. One excellent summary is from the 12th century Spanish commentator Ramban, found on the excellent site sefaria.com.
I propose we look at it as a reminder that there is spiritual inertia whose trajectory is very difficult to change. Pharaoh also seems to be the kind of person who often says whatever comes to mind at the moment, and changes his mind just as quickly.
The Israelites learn, as should we, that while this type of person should be listened to carefully, their actions are more important. They change their mind quickly, always reverting back to their expected behavior. They tell us who they are, even if we don’t believe them.
And it is crucial for us to remember that, despite all of this inertia, freedom wins.
