No Power on Earth (or in Heaven) Can Hinder God's Will

5 Shevat 5786
Erev Shabbat Kodesh
Parashat Bo

Excerpt from the Stone Edition Chumash Commentary...

As this Sidrah begins,  the climax of Moses' mission is impending.  The last three plagues, the commandment to sanctify the New Moon (thus laying the basis of the Jewish calendar and the festival cycle), the laws of Passover, and the sanctification of the firstborn are about to come in quick succession.  Soon Pharaoh's resistance will be completely destroyed and he personally will dash through the streets, seeking Moses and Aaron and urging his erstwhile slaves to leave their land of bondage as soon as possible.

The first plague of the Sidrah, that of Locusts, introduces a new element.  God tells Moses (v. 2) that He intends to make a mockery out of Egypt - putting to rest the  haughty presumptuousness of Pharaoh and his cohorts - so that not only Egypt, but even the Children of Israel would know that I am Hashem.  The inclusion of the Jews in that category implies that even believing people are often imperfect in their faith.  That Pharaoh had resisted the evidence of the Divine origin of the plagues is not surprising.  But it seems that even the faith of the Jews, strong though it may have been, was still not perfect.  In fact, it was not until the Splitting of the Sea that the Torah testified of Israel that they had faith in Hashem and in Moses His servant (14.31).

With regard to the first Pesach detailed in this parashah...

...Pesach teaches that when the time comes for Jewish redemption, no power hinders God's execution of His will.  

For what we are about to face, take to heart what Hashem tells us in the haftarah...

"...be not afraid, My servant Jacob, and be not frightened, O Israel, for I shall save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall return and be tranquil and complacent, and none shall make him tremble.  You, be not afraid, My servant Jacob" - the words of Hashem - "for I am with you; though I shall make an end of all the nations where I have scattered you, of you I shall not make an end; I shall punish you with justice, but I shall not destroy you utterly."

This applies only if we are truly His servants.