An Irony of the Torah

If the purpose of the Plagues is to instill a fear of God in Jews -- that is to hold Him in awe and respect -- one might think the Torah says to rely on Him to solve problems.  If He is almighty and all powerful and has a covenant with the Jews, why would He not resolve problems -- provided the Jews follow His commandments.  In grand irony, however, that's not the message in the Torah.  Instead, the message is that people need to attempt to solve their problems, themselves, before God will help.   Moreover, God's help is not necessarily immediate and could be in the background.  Having a fear of God is needed to open a person's perspective to the possibility that God is behind an event.

All three Patriarchs in the Book of Genesis find themselves in situations that could end their lives.  They all act to solve the problem before God comes to help them.  There are plenty of instances in the Torah where God takes his time to help.  And, the episode of Balaam and Balak illustrates the possibility that God is present although not necessarily seen.

See my book "Finding Judaism in the Torah" on www.amazon.com for further elucidation of these ideas.

Why Does God Harden Pharaoh's Heart?

Why does God "harden" Pharaoh's heart during the Ten Plagues?  By doing so, He stops Pharaoh from letting the Israelites leave Egypt for three days to pray.  Doesn't this run counter to the goal of freeing the Israelites?  The answer is found by realizing that the primary purpose of the Ten Plagues is not to free the Israelites but to instill a fear of God in Pharaoh and in future generations of Jews.  A fear of God is defined biblically to mean holding Him in awe and respect.

Each time God hardens Pharaoh's heart, Pharaoh shows that he either does not think God is responsible for the plague or because he believes himself to be on the same level as God.  God hardens Pharaoh's heart in the 6th plague when he attributes the boils to magic.  God does not want him to think that it is just one god's magic being better than another.  In the 8th plague, God hardens Pharaoh's heart when he views God as a local god.  In the 9th plague, the problem is that Pharaoh thinks he can negotiate with God.   After the Israelites leave Egypt, Pharaoh once again thinks he is on the same level as God, complaining that the Israelites and God failed to live up to the agreement.  So, God hardens his heart.

In the end, the purpose of the Plagues is not just to convince Pharaoh of God's omnipotence, but also to demonstrate the latter for future generations of Jews.  The Plagues are meant to instill a fear of God in all Jews.

See my book, "Finding Judaism in the Torah," for a more extensive discussion.  It is available on amazon.com.

Why Are Purim And Passover Close Together?

Have you ever wondered why Purim and Passover are close to each other on the calendar?  This year, Purim is on March 9-10 and Passover is on April 8-16.  Neither holiday is tied to the agricultural cycle.  However, a theological rationale for their proximity is derived in my book "Finding Judaism in the Torah."  Purim teaches Jews to solve their problems themselves.  Passover emphasizes reliance on God in difficult situations.  The proximity of the holidays allow Jews, during the holiday season, to consider both approaches to resolving problems.  The holidays balance themselves.

"Finding Judaism in the Torah" is available on amazon.com.

The book delves into the Old Testament and finds the theology behind Judaism, with new insight into well-known chapters and verses. Large issues are examined and often-asked questions are answered, including where Cain finds a wife, why God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and why God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. You’ll read the Bible with new appreciation.