A Lesson from Pharaoh: Don’t Judge a Person at Face Value

Do not make the pharaonic mistake. Never judge a person according to social standing, occupation or any other superficial means.

By Rabbi Ari Enkin, Rabbinic Director, United with Israel

Passover commemorates the exodus of the Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt. With the exodus, the Jews became “one nation under God.”

The Midrash (Rabbinic literature) teaches that Pharaoh regretted his decision to release the Jews from Egypt and offers a parable to illustrate how Pharaoh felt.

There was a man who collected a large amount of sticks and twigs and went to the market to sell them. He assumed that his merchandise was not worth very much and sold it all to a single buyer at a low price. The buyer, however, was a talented craftsman who turned the sticks and twigs into valuable wooden objects.

When the man realized their hidden value, he regretted selling the merchandise for so little.

And so it was with Pharaoh. While they were slaves, the Jews seemed worthless. It was only later that he realized how capable, powerful and holy they were.

Only after they were able to fend for themselves, organize themselves into tribes and unite under a leader did he realize what he had – and what he had lost.

Pharaoh realized too late that the Jewish people were far more valuable than work slaves. Only when he saw a nation –not individual slaves—emerge out of Egypt did he realize how wrong he was.

There are many lessons we can learn here, but one lesson is clear: Never take any person at face value. No matter what a person’s standing in life may be, the potential is certainly greater.