Parshat Bo: "And Pharaoh said to them, Go and serve the L-rd, your G-d".
Which ones are going? Moshe said: With our youngsters and with our elders shall we go, with our sons and daughters, with our flocks and cattle shall we go, because it is a festival of Hashem for us."
The first crack in the supreme power of Egypt under the leadership of Pharaoh came about when his servants approached him to complain. saying: "How long will the Jewish people be a snare for us? Almost all of Egypt is already destroyed, let us release the Jewish people and save ourselves."
Pharaoh quickly calls in Moshe and Aharon, tells them they may go to worship their G-d and asks for a list of who will be going. Upon hearing that Moshe intended to take all of his people out with them, including the children, Pharaoh is enraged: For what purpose can the children have in this ceremony? They will just get in the way as children do; I will not release the Jewish people."
And so the plagues continued to rain down on Egypt.
Finally Pharaoh, realizing he has no choice but to recall Moshe and let him know that the Jewish people are free to go worship their G-d. Once again, a list is requested from Moshe. Moshe brazenly tells Pharaoh that not only will the children go out with them, but all the cattle of the Jewish people will also accompany them to the desert.
Moshe told Pharaoh: Not only that, but you too, the mighty Pharaoh of Egypt, will give us flocks to offer up to G-d. Upon hearing this Pharaoh flies into a rage: The chuzpah of Moshe! Here I, King Pharaoh, have agreed to release the Jews, letting them take their children with them, and Moshe has the audacity to tell me that the cattle will also go out with them? Pharaoh swears that the next time he sees Moshe he will kill him!
The question arises: What was holding Moshe up? After hundreds of years as slaves, finally the Jewish people are able to leave. OK, so their flocks would have to stay behind - certainly not the end of the world. They can always get new ones, rebuild their monetary possessions, start over. Would it not have been smarter of Moshe just to get out before Pharaoh once again changes his mind?
The answer lies in an important lesson for us.
G-d was teaching Pharaoh and all leaders for all generations that they do not control destiny. He, Pharaoh, will have no say whatsoever in any decision. He will be powerless. He will be used by G-d as He sees fit - to bring judgment and punishment upon the Egyptian people.
The same Pharaoh who boldly stated "Who is G-d that I should let the Jewish people go?" will now come to realize that G-d rules over His world, He is Master of history and he, Pharaoh, is left without any say in the matter. The transformation will be 100 percent.
First and foremost, the Jewish people today must learn this lesson: G-d not only demands that we follow His commandments as individuals, but He is also the Mover of history, just as Pharaoh was made to recognize this and totally acknowledge the sovereignty of the L-rd over him and his people. There can be no compromises when it comes to the Jewish people.
Today G-d is returning His people back to their land after 2000 years of exile, there can be no compromise over the sovereignty of the Land of Israel, all of it belongs only to His people, the Jewish people. Let the ones who still live outside the Land arise now and come home - and don't leave the children behind!