Surprisingly, the ancient Rabbis found clues in the most unexpected places – even in the words of the wicked Pharaoh himself!
It's a fascinating idea, isn't it? That even through the arrogance of a villain, we can glimpse something profound about the Divine.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, a prominent scholar of the Talmud, pointed out that Moses gave us two key insights in the Torah, and both are echoed in the story of none other than Pharaoh. He draws a comparison using the Hebrew word rak, meaning "only" or "surely," which appears in both Deuteronomy and Genesis.
The first insight relates to authority. Deuteronomy 28:13 states, "You will be only [rak] above." Now, someone might mistakenly think, "Does this mean we're on par with God?" Absolutely not! The presence of "only" (rak) acts as a restriction. As Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish explains, this shows that God's greatness is undeniably superior to ours.
Where do we see this mirrored in the Pharaoh's story? When Pharaoh appoints Joseph as a leader, he says, "You shall be over my palace" (Genesis 41:40). Again, one might ask: does this make Joseph equal to Pharaoh? Again, no! Pharaoh clarifies: "Only [rak] my throne will be greater than you" (Genesis 41:40). See the parallel? Even in delegating power, Pharaoh asserts his ultimate authority, a concept that helps us understand God's unique position.
The second insight concerns holiness. We read "You shall be holy," but does that mean we are on the same level as God? Not at all! The verse continues, "For I am holy," emphasizing that God's holiness is the ultimate standard, far above our own.
And the echo in Pharaoh? “Pharaoh said to Joseph: I am Pharaoh, [and without you, no man shall lift his hand or his foot in the entire land of Egypt]” (Genesis 41:44). Is it, perhaps, on a par with me? The verse states: “I am Pharaoh”; my greatness is superior to your greatness.
Rabbi Yehoshua, quoting Rabbi Levi, takes this idea even further. He proposes that we can learn about the "I" of the Holy One, Blessed be He, from the "I" of flesh and blood. In other words, even Pharaoh's declaration, "I am Pharaoh," which led to Joseph's rise, can give us a tiny glimpse into the power of God's own "I AM." : Pharaoh's declaration led to Joseph's glory. Now, imagine the magnitude of God's "I AM," the ultimate source of all creation! As it says in Isaiah 46:4, "Until old age I am He." And even more powerfully, Isaiah 44:6 proclaims, "So said the Lord, King of Israel and its Redeemer, [the Lord of hosts]: I am first and I am last and besides Me there is no God."
According to Midrash Rabbah, it stands to reason that if Pharaoh's "I am" held such power, then God's "I AM" is infinitely more potent.
So, what does this all mean? Even from the most unlikely sources, even from the boasts of a Pharaoh, we can learn something profound about the nature of God's authority and holiness. It's a reminder that the Divine is reflected, however dimly, in all aspects of creation. It urges us to seek understanding in unexpected places, to look beyond the surface and find the echoes of the Eternal in the everyday. And maybe, just maybe, to recognize a hint of the divine even in a wicked king's declaration, "I am."