Let’s dive into one of those fascinating connections, found within Shemot Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus.
The verse we're looking at is: "It was when Pharaoh let the people go…" But the Holy One, blessed be He, has something to say about this "letting go."
Here's the twist. God says, "I wrote in the Torah: ‘You shall let the mother go, and take the young for yourself’ (Deuteronomy 22:7)." This refers to the mitzvah, the commandment, of sending away the mother bird before taking her eggs or chicks. It's a law rooted in compassion, a reminder to temper our desires with empathy, even for the smallest creatures.
So, what's the connection?
God continues, pointing out Pharaoh's hypocrisy. "…and you let the fathers go but you had cast the sons into the Nile." Pharaoh pretended to "let go," but his cruelty was selective, targeting the innocent male children for death. We all know the story in Exodus – the terrible decree to drown the baby boys.
The implication is devastating. Pharaoh's actions were a perversion of God's law, a cruel mockery of true compassion. And what is the consequence?
God declares, "I, too, will cast you into the sea and eliminate you, as it is stated: ‘He tossed Pharaoh and his army into the sea’ (Psalms 136:15)." Justice, measure for measure. Pharaoh's watery decree would be his own undoing.
But the story doesn't end there. There's a beautiful twist of redemption. God adds, "…but I will take your daughter and I will bequeath her the Garden of Eden."
Wait, Pharaoh's daughter?
Yes! Remember who saved Moses from the Nile? It was Pharaoh's own daughter (Exodus 2:5–6). She defied her father's wicked decree and acted with compassion, embodying the very quality Pharaoh lacked.
And according to this midrash, her reward is immense: a place in the Garden of Eden, Gan Eden, the ultimate paradise.
So, what are we left with? A powerful message about the interconnectedness of our actions, the importance of genuine compassion, and the unexpected ways in which redemption can emerge even from the darkest of circumstances. God's justice is tempered with mercy, and even within the story of oppression, there is a spark of hope and a promise of ultimate reward for those who choose kindness. It reminds us that even in the face of immense evil, individual acts of goodness can have profound and eternal consequences.