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Why did God remove the plagues before the Jews left, enabling Pharaoh to change his mind repeatedly? The shiur explains that God wasn't trying to force Pharaoh's hand—He wanted Pharaoh to submit to His authority willingly. This principle extends to all relationships: the need to control others masks our failure to control ourselves, and true power comes from self-discipline, not from dominating those around us.
Rabbi Zweig opens with a Midrash from Parshas Vaeira that describes a parable: a lion (representing God), a fox (Moshe), and a donkey (Pharaoh). The donkey demands taxes from the king, and the lion kills him; the fox then devours the donkey's heart and tells the king, "Any donkey who demands taxes from a king has no heart." The Midrash seems cryptic—what insight does it add to the Torah (תורה)'s account of Pharaoh's hardened heart? The fundamental question Rabbi Zweig poses is strategic: Why didn't Moshe simply keep the plagues in place until the Jews were safely out of Egypt? Each time God removed a plague, Pharaoh reneged on his promise. The answer reveals the true nature of the struggle between God and Pharaoh: it was never simply about getting the Jewish people out of Egypt. That would have been easy—just maintain the pressure. The issue was about authority and control. God wanted Pharaoh to submit to His will, not to be coerced by physical suffering. True control means the other party recognizes your authority and chooses to obey, not that you force compliance through brute power.
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Parshas Vaeira (Shemos/Exodus), Midrash on the plagues; Pirkei Avos on "Who is strong?"
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