At the beginning stages of Parshat Bo, Moshe and Aaron come to Pharaoh and say to him “So said Hashem, G-d of the Hebrews: ‘Until when will you refuse to be humbled before Me? Send out My people that they may serve Me!” (Exodus:10:3)

What does G-d mean when he says to be humble? Well, at this point in history, G-d has already smitten the Land of Egypt with seven plagues, yet Pharaoh refuses to free the Jewish people. Why is he doing this? Why is it that Pharaoh is so against the idea of allowing the Jewish people to go serve their G-d?

It is not secret that the Jewish people have a G-d, who is Powerful and is existent. He has already stricken Egypt with seven plagues, all which have come when He said they would and have ended when He says they would. Just like Pharaoh was told, the plagues came and went just like G-d had commanded, yet Pharaoh refuses to let the Jewish people be free.

Why?

I believe that Pharaoh had been overwhelmed by a sense of arrogance. An arrogant person is one who is overly prideful, or has an overcoming sense of one’s own importance. When in need, an arrogant person would refuse to ask for help, but a humble one would be willing to admit he needs aid. During a dispute, an arrogant person would never admit wrong even if he/she knows that he/she is wrong, but a humble person would gladly put their ego aside and admit fault. Pharaoh refuses to be humble by allowing Egypt to suffer and choosing to enslave the Jewish people. He chooses to be arrogant, to enslave instead of admitting that he is not in control and to free the nation, which he has enslaved.

The message that the Torah is trying to teach us by Pharaoh’s actions and G-d’s words to Pharaoh, is to be honest to ourselves. To take a step back and see the truth, to see reality and see how things really are. Instead of being arrogant, like Pharaoh, to admit when we are at fault. To be humble and to be honest with ourselves.