If It Wasn't For The Frogs

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In the story of Pesach “Hashem said to Moshe, ‘Go to Pharaoh and say to him, Thus says Hashem… if you refuse to let them go, I will plague your entire country with frogs.’” 

On this the Midrash says, "Our teachers taught, what is ‘the greatest advantage in all the land?’ Even things that seem unnecessary in the world, like flies, fleas and gnats, they too are a part of G-d’s creation... Even things that seem unnecessary in the universe, like snakes and scorpions, were also a part of G-d’s creation of the world. Hashem says to the prophets, Did you assume that if you do not fulfill my charge I do not have other messengers? “The greatest advantage in all the land is His.” My mission will be fulfilled even by a snake, even by a scorpion and even by a frog. Know that so it is, for if not for the tzirah, how would Hashem have inflicted retribution on the Amorites? And if not for the frogs, how would Hashem have exacted retribution from the Egyptians? Thus, it is stated, “I will plague (your entire country with frogs).”

There were other plagues that were by far more severe than the frogs. For example, There was the first plague of blood that hit the Nile, which was not only their source of drinking water, but it was also what drove their whole economy. Egypt was an agricultural giant, the water of the Nile was the source of all their produce and they also had a fishing industry which was devastated by the blood. 

There was the last plague, the slaying of the firstborn, which was definitely more devastating than the frogs. The rest of the plagues were also hard on the Egyptians, and at the splitting of the sea they all drowned, which was surely worse than frogs. So how can the Midrash say, "If not for the frogs, how would Hashem have exacted retribution from the Egyptians?"? 

The purpose of the plagues was not to punish Pharaoh and the Egyptians, rather, as the verse says, "And Egypt will know that I Am Hashem." That G-dliness should be revealed in Egypt. And that only could be done by breaking Egypt and that was done through the plagues. 

And since what was blocking G-dliness from being revealed in Egypt were the attitudes of Pharaoh and the Egyptians, the main thing that broke through and changed their attitude was the frogs, as will be explained. 

There are three ways rebellion or denial of Hashem takes form, each one getting worse than the previous one. 

The first form of rebellion in Hashem, is claiming that there is another that has power other than Hashem. He doesn't directly deny Hashem's existence, because he knows that his existence depends on Hashem, rather he calls Hashem, the G-d of gods. 

The second is the one who says that Hashem is G-d of gods, but denies that existence is dependent on Hashem, rather he thinks that he is responsible for his own existence and the things around him. Like Pharaoh who said, "the Nile is mine and I made it." And when he says that Hashem is G-d of gods, he means that Hashem is more powerful than him or his gods, but denies that existence is dependent on the G-d of gods. 

The third is the one who outright denies and fights against Hashem's existence, he doesn't even consider Him the G-d of gods. 

While on the surface the third one, the outright denial of Hashem seems the worst of all, but when you look deeper, the one who says, "the Nile is mine and I made it," is a lot worse. 

To explain. In the first way of thinking, he believes in another power, but by saying that Hashem is the G-d of gods, he is recognizing that his existence is from Hashem. 

In the third way of thinking, true he outright denies and fights against Hashem's existence, but the fact that he is fighting so hard to deny it, means that it bothers him, deep down he believes in G-dliness. 

However, the second way of thinking, the way of Pharaoh who said, "the Nile is mine and I made it," he only sees himself. The fact that he calls Hashem the G-d of gods has nothing to do with him, he is his own entity. Therefore he is totally apathetic to G-dliness. 

The same as it is with these three groups, so it is with the creations that Hashem created. 

There are creations that give honor to Hashem, as you can immediately see their positive purpose that they were created far. Then there are those that are dangerous or their purpose is a negative one, like snakes and scorpions, but you can see their purpose, and you can see through them that Hashem doesn't create anything in vain. 

These two attest to Hashem's existence, because through the handiwork you can get a sense of its creator. 

Then there are things like frogs, which to the average person, and to Pharaoh and the Egyptians, have no purpose, they are benign. When you see them, you wonder what purpose could they possibly have? It makes room to question if there is someone in charge. 

These frogs did Hashem's bidding, and what more they did it with self sacrifice, they even jumped into the Egyptian ovens. When they saw what the frogs did for Hashem, it broke their way of thinking and they knew that "I Am Hashem!" None of the other plagues were like the frogs, they were either things that are normally positive or negative, and they showed that there was a Craftsman Who created them, Hashem. 

May we merit to once again see the hand of Hashem in everything with the coming of Moshiach. May he come soon.