Vaera: Exodus 6:2 through 9:35

Let my People Go! World Lock-downs

Hashem spoke to Moshe and told him he was going to take the people out from under the oppression of Egypt. Moshe tells Hashem that the children of Israel have not listened to him and how can he expect Pharaoh to listen. Hashem tells him he has made him a master over Pharaoh, that Pharaoh will not heed him to let Israel go because Hashem will harden his heart. But that Hashem himself will take the children of Israel out of Egypt with a strong hand.

Thus starts a plea bargaining between Moshe and Pharaoh which backs Pharaoh in a corner from which he cannot escape. His ego is at stake, And even when he confesses that he is guilty, he is hardened to continue to resist the quest to let Israel go.

At this time the world has demanded detailed lock-downs.. The Government of Israel has not only locked the country down several times for several weeks at a time but at the same time has offered its citizenry as guinea pigs for the Pfizer vaccine trials. And those who refuse this burden will be subject to even more extensive lock-down measures. No more international travel. No more national parks or restaurants…the threats build up and the people shudder. Some rush for the vaccine to guarantee they will see their children and grandchildren, just to find out that the vaccine does not keep them from getting the plague. Yes they have been promised a passport, under the conditions of receiving whatever boosters they are required to have. And nobody thought that Israel would force its own people to obey the nations of the world who represent Pharaoh and Egypt. But Hashem has something to say about it:

Jer. 23:1-3 “Woe to the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! Says Hashem. Therefore, thus says Hashem, G-d of Israel against the shepherds that feed My people; You have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not taken care of them: behold, I will punish you for the evil of your doings, says Hashem. And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries into which I have driven them and will bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them who shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking says Hashem.”

And so Egypt is among us and there is no guarantee that the land is a safe place…EXCEPT that Hashem has promised to protect us. Yes the long arm of Pharaoh has reached now into the land of Israel to claim its subjects and the leadership are quite happy to turn us over for their own personal profit and standing with the world leaders.

Micah 7:2-3, 7 JPS “The pious have perished from the land, and there is no upright among men; All lie in wait to commit crimes, One traps the other in his net. They are eager to do evil: the magistrate makes demands, And the judge (judges) for a fee; The rich man makes his crooked plea, and they grant it…(7) But I will hope in the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.”

Amos 2:6: “…I will not turn away (Israel’s) his punishment, ; because they sold the righteous
for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;”

The plagues of Egypt lasted about a year according to some Biblical commentaries. The plague of Corona (whether or not it is what we think it is) has lasted almost a year. How much longer will humanity suffer under darkness and distress? We see how even as the plagues became more and more extreme and damaging, the hardened heart of Pharaoh clearly did not care about his citizen’s health or well being. It was all about his narcissistic claim to be a god. And today we see our prime minister anxious to hold on to his position at all cost, even the cost of the lives of the people of Israel, and even to the extent of forming an alliance with the Arabs to keep his place on the throne.

So what are the parallels that we see to this Parsha?

1. Pharaoh will not let the people go, he claims them as his property: The country claims it’s citizens as it’s property to use as an experiment for the “solution” of the global pandemic. The entire country is in lock-down. We cannot go anywhere for the government has declared that we must stay in our homes until the pandemic is under control.
2. The people would not listen to Moses out of fear of Pharaoh. The people of Israel now act similarly as if they do not believe that Hashem can provide a way for them to travel and to live if they do not submit to the requirement of a vaccine that is untested and filled with dangerous and even unclean things (things like fetal tissue).
3. Pharaoh becomes less and less powerful over the people of Hashem. This part has yet to be played out. Only as people realize that the power of control will lessen as Hashem reveals what is in the darkness of the grand deception being played out, will they find courage to hold on until they are delivered.
   
   The stage is set and the countdown has started. Let us hang on as Pharaoh is weakened and the Hand of Hashem is revealed!