(2003/5763)
In this week’s Parsha, Parshat Bo, Moshe and Aharon request from Pharo to go to the desert for three days so that Bnai Yisrael can celebrate a festival for Hashem. Pharo denies the entire notion of going out, but Moshe says in Perek 10 Pasuk 9, “with our youngsters and with our elders we shall go, with our sons and our daughters, flock and cattle.” Pharo then replies in the next Pasuk, “See that evil faces you.” Rashi says two things about this. One is that Onkelos translated it as, “See that evil which you intend to commit turns back at you.” The second thing that Rashi says is that he quotes a Midrash that tells of a star called Raa. Pharo said to Moshe and to Aharon, “my astrological predictions tell me that this Raa star will meet you in the desert and it is an omen of blood and killing.” Later, when Bnai Yisrael committed the sin of Egel Hazahav, Hashem wanted to kill them, as the result. Moshe davened to Hashem, and said, “Remember what Pharo said? ‘See what Raa Is facing you.’ It will look as if you can’t control the fate of Pharo’s astronomers!” Because of this, in Perek 32, Pasuk 14, it says, “Vayinachem Hashem Al Haraa,” “Hashem reconsidered regarding the star Raa.” Hashem then turned the blood of death (of the star) into the blood of circumcision, and this was the reason that Yehoshua had to circumcise Bnai Yisrael’s males upon entry into the Land. When the circumcision was performed, in Sefer Yehoshua, Perek 5, Pasuk 9 it says “Hayom Giliti Et Cherpat Mitzrayim Mealeichem,” “Today, I have rolled away the humiliation of Egypt from upon you.” Egypt would have “proved” that Hashem has no control over astrological predictions. We, of course, know that this is false, and that is why Hashem changed the sign of death into the sign of life.