We often read these epic stories in the Torah and just accept that things happened at the right moment. But what if there's a hidden layer of incredible detail beneath the surface, revealing just how meticulously God orchestrates events? to one example from Shemot Rabbah, specifically section 18, that blew my mind.
The verse in Exodus 12:29 tells us, "It was at midnight, and the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt…" Simple enough. But the rabbis in Shemot Rabbah don't let it rest there. They ask: Why midnight? What's so special about that particular hour?
The midrash connects this moment to Isaiah 44:26: "Who fulfills the word of His servant and performs the counsel of His messengers." Rabbi Abahu identifies the "servant" in this verse as none other than Moses himself, citing Numbers 12:7, "My servant Moses is not so, [he is trusted in all My house]." So how exactly did God fulfill Moses's word at midnight?
Think back to the plague of darkness. Pharaoh, desperate, tries to bargain with Moses, saying, "Go serve the Lord; only your flocks and your herds will remain…" (Exodus 10:24). But Moses stands firm: "By your life, 'no hoof will remain'" (Exodus 10:26). Now, the midrash digs into the meaning of "hoof." It wasn't just about what the Israelites owned. Even if an animal belonged to an Egyptian, if a single hoof of that animal belonged to an Israelite, Moses wouldn't leave it behind! That’s some serious commitment to principle. Moses continues, "As we will take from them… And we will not know with what we will serve the Lord" (Exodus 10:26). The midrash brilliantly interprets this as Moses saying, "You, Pharaoh, are just flesh and blood. People die if they disobey you. But we serve God! We don't know what He will ask of us. Maybe He'll demand sacrifices equivalent to the 210 years we were enslaved!" Talk about a blank check!
Pharaoh, completely fed up, explodes: "Until when will you enter here? 'Go from me, beware, do not see my face anymore'" (Exodus 10:28). And Moses, with incredible resolve, replies: "You have spoken well; I will not see your face anymore" (Exodus 10:29).
Here's where things get truly fascinating. The midrash suggests that God, eager to keep Moses from being seen as a liar, actually rushed into Pharaoh’s palace to speak to Moses. How do we know? Well, previously Moses had refused to speak to God within the city, let alone the palace, because of all the idolatry. As Exodus 9:29 says, "As I leave the city, I will spread my hands to the Lord." But now, God initiates the conversation, telling Moses, "One more plague I will bring upon Pharaoh…" (Exodus 11:1).
Moses, overjoyed, proclaims publicly, "So said the Lord: About midnight, [I will emerge in the midst of Egypt]" (Exodus 11:4). He essentially tells Pharaoh, "I won't come to you anymore. You will come to me. Your officials will beg me to leave!" He avoids explicitly demanding Pharaoh’s prostration, showing respect even in this moment of triumph.
And then, precisely at midnight, as Moses had declared, the final plague strikes. "It was at midnight, and the Lord smote all the firstborn…" Hence, the verse, "Who fulfills the word of His servant."
But the midrash doesn’t stop there! It adds, "And performs the counsel of His messengers," explaining that God had even consulted with Abraham about this plan! Remember when Abraham pursued the kings in Genesis 14? The midrash offers a mind-bending interpretation of "And he divided the night between them" (Genesis 14:15), suggesting that God and Abraham shared the night, setting the stage for the ultimate act of divine justice. Once midnight arrived on the night of the plague, the plan was complete.
So, what does all this mean? It means that the Exodus wasn't just a miraculous escape; it was a meticulously planned, divinely orchestrated event, down to the very minute. It shows us a God who keeps His promises, protects His messengers, and acts with incredible precision. It makes you wonder what other hidden depths lie beneath the surface of the stories we think we know so well.