{"id":41051,"date":"2018-09-27T09:22:03","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T06:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=41051"},"modified":"2022-04-27T07:49:01","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T04:49:01","slug":"seeing-the-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/seeing-the-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeing the Light"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":50634,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[619,618,386,412],"acf":{"old_id":"41051","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":38047,"related_cahpter":"60","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Pharaoh achieved clarity in the dark, only to lose it when the lights came back on ","content":"<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The plague of darkness, beyond its role as the ninth in the series of ten plagues, was a decisive stage in the departure of Egypt, a stage of decision-making for both sides. This was no ordinary darkness that could be softened by a glimmer of starlight, or to which human eyes might adjust; rather the darkness was so thick it could be felt, and for three days the Egyptians could neither see each other nor move from their places (Exodus 10:23).<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The commentator Sforno (Italy, early 16<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> century) explained: When Moses reached out his hand he \u201cremoved the natural darkness of the night\u201d and replaced it with darkness that was \u201cunwilling to accept light.\u201d Beyond his Renaissance physics, Sforno expresses an important idea: before darkness can give way to light, before any change is possible, we must be open and willing to accept that change is possible. Almost paradoxically, unyielding darkness facilitated the necessary receptivity. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previously, Pharaoh had summoned Moses to ask that a plague be lifted (see the previous plague, locusts in verses 16-17), but now specifies that the Israelites will be allowed leave (Ex. 10:24). When the lights came back on, Pharaoh recants, but what happened in the dark?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For three days, the Egyptians were nearly paralyzed in place. Pharaoh, too, was alone with his thoughts, isolated from the advisors who quite likely presented him with conflicting perspectives on every issue. Moreover, no one could see him, allowing Pharaoh a chance to break free from any concern about how changing his mind and releasing the Israelite slaves would damage his reputation. The clarity he achieved in the dark helped Pharaoh came to the correct conclusion that he had met a Higher Power, and letting people of Israel go was the right things to do.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only Pharaoh made an important decision in the three days of darkness. Until now, the Israelites had done little if anything to facilitate their freedom. Soon that would change, and the time without concern for what Egyptians might see, say or do gave them an opportunity to decide with whom to cast their fate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"direction: ltr;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Living in darkness is indeed a plague, something to be studiously avoided. Nonetheless, there are times when openness, clarity and independent decision-making can accomplished only by distancing ourselves from extraneous influences and fears.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":41494,"id":41494,"title":"shutterstock_334176917","filename":"shutterstock_334176917.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/shutterstock_334176917.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/seeing-the-light\/shutterstock_334176917\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"shutterstock_334176917","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":41051,"date":"2018-10-04 11:34:08","modified":"2022-04-27 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