The story of the exodus from Egypt is often cryptic. Many raise a question about HaKadosh Baruch Hu strengthening the heart of Pharaoh so that he would refuse to release the children of Israel. This is done from the start, when Moshe turns his staff into a snake; until the end, when Pharaoh pursues the children of Israel, after God strikes dead their first born.
There are times that God says explicitly that He will harden Pharaoh's heart. Other times Moshe is sent to talk to Pharaoh specifically at a time when he is stubborn. Sometimes Pharaoh is provoked into being stubborn. Also Pharaoh can be stubborn on his own about giving the Israel time off from work for a Jewish holiday. When he is not being stubborn on his own, it does not seem fair to give him a punishment, especially if the reason is for the glory of God.
There is a debate among the commentaries about the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. Some say that the hardening of the heart was part of a punishment. Pharaoh was a rasha in general, the throwing of the baby boys of Israel was a horrible atrocity, and he had no business enslaving Israel to begin as they should have been free to leave at their pleasure. Consequently not only would he have frogs and bugs all over the place, skin disease, his country made into a wreck, and his son killed, but he'd be a bit crazy as well.
Other commentaries say Pharaoh conceded because he was exhausted not because he saw that he was wrong. He really did not want to release Israel, therefore HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave him the strength to do what he really wanted to do. This is because God wants people to do things because it is the right thing to do. A person who refrains from evil because of an imminent threat, but nevertheless clings to evil, doesn't find much favor in the eyes of heaven.
The failings of Pharaoh unfortunately are not unusual. He had no fear of heaven. He only considered himself and nobody else. He attributed benefits that occur naturally to his own personal efforts. He would only bow to physical force. He totally rejected concepts of morality. He had no problem reneging on commitments. It's possible to believe these characteristics are so bad it was worth wrecking Egypt to uproot them. Another way to look at this is that extreme actions will be taken to uproot a stubborn evil.
The issue of hardening Pharaoh's heart is not the only difficulty in parshas Bo. It also contains the mitzvah of not eating chametz on Passover. The reason given by the Chumash is that Israel left Egypt in a hurry and did not wait for the bread dough to raise. Even so it seems to be making a big deal over a trivial action. People do learn out from this the idea humility and disposing of things that have become stale or bitter. The parsha also contains the source of the mitzvah for tefillin even though the language needs to be explained.
Much of the language in the Chumash is clear, nevertheless it is often a meditative document. As Rashi says on the first verse of the Torah, “This verse says nothing but explore me”. The word Torah is language of education. Therefore it is appropriate to ponder its stories and symbols, draw personal conclusions, and share them with others.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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