That's the scene we find ourselves in, in this passage from Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus.

We're talking about the tenth plague, the slaying of the firstborn. "It was at midnight," the text tells us, echoing the words of Elihu in Job 34:20: "In a moment they die, at midnight." A stark reminder of the suddenness and finality of divine judgment. Can you imagine the utter chaos and despair? One moment, life as usual; the next, unimaginable grief sweeping through every household.

The screams, the wails… the Torah recounts, "Pharaoh rose during the night, he, all his servants, and all of Egypt, [and there was a great cry in Egypt]" (Exodus 12:30). It's a visceral image, isn’t it? The sheer terror must have been palpable.

And then, in the midst of all that pandemonium, Pharaoh, the once-mighty ruler, the one who defied God and enslaved an entire people, he cracks. He "called for Moses and Aaron" (Exodus 12:31). The tables have dramatically turned.

But Moses, ever the leader, doesn't let Pharaoh off the hook so easily. He challenges him, asking, “What does Pharaoh seek? Who comes to whom, you to me or me to you?” It's a power play, a moment of profound significance. The oppressor is now begging for help from the very people he oppressed.

And what does Pharaoh say? “Please, ‘rise, depart from the midst of my people’” (Exodus 12:31). He's pleading with them to leave, to take their people and go. The reason, according to Shemot Rabbah, is a recognition of God's overwhelming power. Pharaoh acknowledges, through his desperate actions, that God is "wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who has challenged Him and prospered?" (Job 9:4). He realizes that challenging God is a losing battle.

Think about that for a moment. All the plagues, all the suffering, culminated in this single, pivotal moment. A moment where even the most hardened heart recognizes the futility of resisting divine will. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the darkest of times, redemption is possible, and that even the mightiest can be brought to their knees. It's a story about power, humility, and the undeniable force of faith.