In parshah Vaera we’re shown the whole plan: Moses is told to speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and demand that he “send the Children of Israel from his land.” (Exodus 6:11)

It sounds impossible! But there’s more to this plan than can be seen from our earthly point of view. There’s a strategy here that is not limited to a practical, physical perspective. The higher wisdom of the universe explains:

“See, I have made you master over Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your spokesman. … But I shall harden Pharaoh’s heart and I shall multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh will not heed you, and I shall put My hand upon Egypt; and I shall take out My legions—My people the Children of Israel—from the land of Egypt, with great judgments. And Egypt shall know that I am God.” (Exodus 7:1-5)

Obviously we know that their subsequent journey was full of challenges and struggles, until they did finally reach the Promised Land. What we’re being shown in this teaching is that even when we know where we need to go, there will still be many challenges along the way. We need to remember that even though God is always on our side, it is the same God who is “hardening Pharaoh’s heart” by placing challenges before us, in a way that’s meant to stretch us and open up our mind and our heart as we go forward.

This means that we are not on this journey of life alone. When we listen carefully from within, we can notice that the higher wisdom of the universe is always within us, loving us, and continuously expanding our awareness through life lessons that we don’t always want to learn. When we’re ready to listen, this inner guidance can empower us with greater understanding, and eventually bring us into the “promised land” of a more enlightened way of being.