Parashas Va'eira - Nothing is hidden from Hashem!

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Pharoh was the king of Egypt, who also liked to be known as 'god'. As a matter a fact, he told the Egyptians that he was a god. He claimed that he never had to use the toilets because he simply didn't need them. Before makkas dam (blood), Hashem asked for Moshe to meet Pharoh by the Nile River - early in the morning - because that's where he would relieve himself. [1] He woke up earlier than anyone else would in order to keep his secret discreet. He might be able to fool the Egyptians, however, nothing is hidden from Hashem!

The posuk says, "Moshe and Aharon came to Pharoh and they did exactly as Hashem commanded them... Pharoh too called his wise men and magicians..." [2] Why does the posuk need to say the word 'too'? It seems extra because the posuk would of read well without it anyways, and we know that the Torah never adds any unnecessary words.

Incidentally, every year I hear the same question, "How is it that Bnei Yisroel sinned with the golden calf? They witnessed Hashem's hand and saw miracles happen right before their eyes! Why did they feel like they needed to make another 'god' just because Moshe was no longer with them?!

I believe both of the above questions can be answered by this one posuk: Hashem said to Moshe, "See, I have made you a G-d to Pharoh; and Aharon, your brother will be your spokesman." [3] Rashi says 'G-d' here means a judge. Yonasan ben Uziel (and perush Yonasan) says on this posuk, "And Hashem said to Moshe, 'Why are you afraid of Pharoh? On the contrary! He's afraid of you, because I have turned you into a G-d. It seems like Yonasan ben Uziel's definition of 'G-d' is different than Rashis. He takes the word literally, where Rashi says it means judge.

Pharoh viewed Moshe as a 'god' (according to Yonasan ben Uziel's pshat in the posuk.) And Moshe had a 'spokesman' (Aharon), who took care of what Moshe instructed. This was Pharoh's judgment. Since Pharoh too viewed himself as a god to the Egyptians, it seemed fit that he too, like Moshe (who he viewed as a god) called his spokesmen (wise men and magicians) to perform witchcraft.

Since the posuk mentioned the extra word, 'too', it showed how much Pharoh believed that Moshe was a god in his eyes. And perhaps we can assume that to some level, Bnei Yisroel felt the same way, which is why they felt they must "create a new god (leader)" once they saw that Moshe was dead.

Pharoh was stubborn and ignorant. He made it as if he was a god, ignoring the fact there's Someone more powerful than him - someone legitimate. One who knows all and sees all. Nothing is hidden from Hashem, and there's nobody who will ever be like Him.

May we always remember that although flesh and blood can't see our actions, however there is Hashem, the One who does.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Nisso

[1] 7:15
[2] 7:10-12
[3] 7:1