The Pharaoh Syndrome vs The Moses Effect

Genesis 7:14. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaohs heart is hardened ; he will refuse to let the people go.”

                                   So, what is the Pharaoh Syndrome?

In the Exodus saga, the Hebrew slaves were seeking liberty from the Egyptians. This new Pharaoh either knew nothing about Joseph or didn’t care.  He had a large group of minority workmen to help with his various building projects and he wasn’t interested in freeing this huge population of people.

The Scriptures describe this Pharaoh as ……” hardened of heart!”  What does it mean to have a hard heart?  After the various plagues, he knew that his actions were self -destructive and bringing ruin to his country.  He even fleetingly agreed to stop the madness.  But he couldn’t finalize the change. His heart wouldn’t allow his recognition to translate into his behavior.     

When suddenly we realize that something in our life isn’t working, we resolve to do better. 

That sounds good, except if the resolution doesn’t materialize in our actual behavior or actions then nothing is really changing!  We may be trying to outsmart ourselves into thinking that perhaps a change will happen evidentially. We might just be fooling ourselves.

        Pharaoh’s heart remained hardened.  His actions didn’t change.

The Exodus Struggle

The Hebrews seeking liberty from the enslaving Egyptians is also a personal narrative.  It depicts my/your continuous struggle for freedom from our personal “Egypts”.    We might be enslaved to something: our fears; our struggles; our self-doubt, our anxieties……..the list goes on!

So whence comes our salvation?

                                            Here comes Moses!

Moses is described in scripture and tradition as a man of total commitment.  Brillant as he was, he didn’t guide his life by intellect alone.   He felt a deep and profound relationship with the Divine, and that’s what guided his behavior. 

Mobilizing our inner Moses means selflessly committing ourselves to our highest image, the vision of who God wants us to be.  It means mobilizing our ourselves to create a different image.  A selfless commitment.  It means a change in the way we do things!

Thus, a conflict between the Pharaoh Syndrome and the Moses Effect!

So, the next time you resolve to change your behavior, see it as part of your commitment to God. It is always the right time to pursue justice, to feed the poor, to take care of strangers, to pay your employees on time, to act with respect in all manner of relationships. It might involve forgiving a person who has wronged you; taking care of someone that you really don’t like; helping the less fortunate; being there for someone who just needs a listening ear; being on call when you would rather watch TV.  

 See these commitments as an exercise in your relationship with your Creator. See it the very reason for you to be welcomed into His Love and that expression of His love for you as expressed in your love toward others.  See if excuses block your way!!

                                        Make way for the Moses Effect!