Vaera: demonstartion

Vaera: demonstartion

Demonstration is a major theme of Va'era.  The parsha is aptly named:" I appeared".  Abraham, Yitzchok  and Yaakov had Gd appear to them, but the revelation  to Moshe, the revelation  that is about to occur is something different.  We understand, and it stated in the subsequent text, that  Moshe's  relationship with Gd is deeper and different from those of the patriarchs.  But now we also see a more public  demonstration of Gd:: Gd's power, Gd's rules

The demonstration has several axes.  There is a demonstration to Pharoah , a demonstration  to the Hebrews and a demonstration to  the world and for all time.  Each one   needs  a demonstration. The pharoah is the great intimidator.  Slavery is an intimidation and the Pharaoh is the master of slavery.  Thus,  he needs o be intimidated, shown that there are powers far greater than his and that they can be mediated by slaves

 Pharaoh also has has loss aversion. He has these slaves, and what clever slaves they are. Visionaries, great administrators, doctors lawyers engineers  How can he just give them up, based upon a demand backed up by a few tricks.  !

Then come the plagues.  Some of the plagues remind Pharaoh of his actions.  The river turnes to blood.  It is the blood of the Hebrew infant boys. The frogs emerge:,  the ghosts of the boys , invading every space.   The lice are the feeling that you get when you see a downtrodden, probably infested slave The beast are unintelligible and varied invaders.

The Hebrews need a demonstration that Gd cares about  them.  They are not forgotten. Gd has heard their cry and Gd has the power to redeem them , Gd has the power to separate them from their tormentors.   We already know, from Abraham's plea fro Sodom, that the innocent will be saved...but who is now so innocent?   Yet,as we know, the Hebrews are exempted form  many of the plagues and ultimately redeemed

וְאוּלָ֗ם בַּעֲב֥וּר זֹאת֙ הֶעֱמַדְתִּ֔יךָ בַּעֲב֖וּר הַרְאֹתְךָ֣ אֶת־כֹּחִ֑י וּלְמַ֛עַןסַפֵּ֥ר שְׁמִ֖י בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃

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Gd reveals the purpose of keeping Pharoah alive, perhaps the purpose of his birth:  To demonstrate to Gd's might and so that  Gd is publicized in all the land.  These acts are needed to reveal and document the power of Gd.  Their report melts the hearts of Israel's enemies and inform  generations that Gd  is  the greatest force in the universe.

Even as it was happening, there were doubters, alternative explanations expressed in the science of the times.

  The same is true now