Like stacking the deck. Well, Shemot Rabbah, the great collection of interpretations on the Book of Exodus, wrestles with just that.
One fascinating reading hinges on a verse from Deuteronomy (32:26), a really intense moment where God declares, "I said I will eliminate them [afeihem]." Now, afeihem is a bit of a puzzle. It literally means "their anger," but the Rabbis love to play with words and find deeper meanings hidden within.
So, what if we break it down a little differently? What if afeihem is actually a combination of two phrases? "I said in my wrath [be’api]: Where are they [ayeh hem]?" It’s a question, born of divine fury. : God, in His anger, is essentially asking, "Where are they? Where are those who provoked Me?" It's not just about wiping them out; it's about the deep disappointment, the sense of betrayal that fuels the divine wrath.
The Midrash goes on to say that this anger could lead to the ultimate punishment: "I will cease their memory from man" (Deuteronomy 32:26). To be forgotten, to vanish from history… that’s a pretty serious consequence.
But then, a twist! What stopped God from carrying out this complete erasure? "Were it not that I dreaded the enemy's provocation" (Deuteronomy 32:27). God's concern wasn't just about His own anger, but about how the nations would perceive this act. Would they see it as justice, or as weakness? Would it lead to further desecration of God's name?
So, what does all this have to do with Pharaoh’s hardened heart? This passage in Shemot Rabbah is showing us the immense weight of God's decisions. Hardening Pharaoh’s heart wasn't some arbitrary act. It was part of a much larger, incredibly complex plan involving justice, memory, and God's relationship with the entire world.
It reminds us that even seemingly simple phrases in the Torah can hold layers upon layers of meaning, inviting us to delve deeper and grapple with the big questions about God, humanity, and the choices we make.