Ethics from the Torah Portion: BO

Mussar in the Parsha: BO

This week we read the Torah portion entitled "Bo" which begins with Moses trying to convince Pharaoh to let the Jews go, and Pharaoh's stubborn refused for God had "hardened his (Pharaoh's)heart".

Many Torah commentaries address the case of the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart and the apparent contradiction it presents us with. Was Pharaoh not entitled to free will?

On this issue, the S’fat Emet differentiates between one’s heart and one’s will; thus solving the entire problem.

God accused Pharaoh, “Until when will you refuse to be humbled before Me?” (10:3). Targum Onkelos translates this to mean that God is asking Pharaoh refuses to be subjugated before Him.

At first glance, Pharaoh could have answered by explaining that God had hardened his heart; but he doesn’t do so. Although God did harden his heart, the option still remained for him to will to be subjugated. In his wickedness, Pharaoh did not even have the internal willpower deep inside to improve.

We see the following scenario play itself out in reality. A person may fall and sin, and then sin again; but internally he doesn’t want to sin. Also in this scenario the person’s appetite for sin prevailed over his moral compass, he agrees that what he did was wrong. His awareness is still fighting through his battle with the inclination to sin.

Despite this, Pharaoh “refused”, even his moral compass refused to acknowledge what was right and what was wrong; and therefore he was punished.

 Even if we slip and veer off the path of righeteousness, we must never block off the path of return. If we insist that there's no going back, there won't be.