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Certain plagues seem to have nearly broken him or at least made him give in on previous negotiating stances.
Arbeh (locusts) seems to have raised particular fear in Par’oh. When Moshe threatened that a great swarm of them would come and "cover the eye of the land ... and eat the remainder of what was leftover from the hail" (Shemot 10:5), his wise men convinced him to give in (ibid.:7-8). Par’oh said that the men could go serve Hashem, objecting only to the children taking part, for they do not do service anyway (see Ramban to 10:10). Moshe said that all must go because it was "a festival of Hashem for us" (ibid.:9), prompting Par’oh to send him away for being dishonest in his request, as Par’oh accused him (correctly) of planning to escape (see ibid.:11). When the plague actually came and ate all the remaining greenery, Par’oh hurriedly capitulated (temporarily), begging that Moshe remove "this death." He even made a moral admission: "I have sinned to Hashem, your G-d, and to you" (ibid. 17). The sin to Moshe is easily identifiable, as Par’oh had thrown him out of the palace. However, what did Par’oh mean by sinning to Hashem, as he had already agreed to allow the sacrifices that Moshe said that Hashem wanted?
The point might be that Hashem had demanded Par’oh to capitulate to whatever demands Moshe made in His name (see ibid.:3). Not obeying was by definition disrespectful. Let us suggest, though, another possibility. Par’oh had in essence claimed that Hashem could only have been asking to receive sacrifices, thereby satiating His appetite in a pagan sense, kav’yachol. Moshe had countered that Hashem is interested in a festival with Him that is actually for the benefit of the people. Par’oh’s agreement to allow Hashem’s needs from a pagan perspective was a snub to the concept that Hashem wanted a festival that would impact on the people. The sin was, then, denying Hashem the right to define His role as G-d of the Hebrews in the manner He wanted. Indeed, the next time Par’oh made an offer (ibid.:24), he said that everyone could go and only held back taking their flocks (beyond those needed for sacrifice).
Let us end off by suggesting what about the arbeh had shaken Par’oh. After all, at the point he contacted Moshe, they had already eaten all the vegetation, and arbeh are not carnivorous. What "spooked out" Par’oh so much to make him at least temporarily give in? The key may be found in the phrase "cover the eye of the land." This is a phrase that Balak used (Bamidbar 22:5) to describe the multitude of Bnei Yisrael that he saw and was disgusted by (similar to the Egyptian reaction to the increased number of Jews - see Shemot 1:12). The arbeh reminded him of the Hebrews who were also a swarm of annoying creatures, who, when focused on a certain goal, cover the land by their multitude and make things unlivable. This led him to allow them to get their idea of feasting with Hashem taken care of so that they would settle back to be submissive slaves. However, Par’oh was to learn later that they would become tame, but not as his slaves, but as Hashem’s servants.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
