The most common understanding of the Commandment of not taking God’s Name in vain is that we should not swear falsely. Another understanding is that we should not do commit a crime in His Name.
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The Reason for Mt. Sinai
The 10 Commandments start with a statement that God took us out of Egypt. Why not say that He is the God who created the Heavens and the Earth? Here are two reasons for that.
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Amalek is True Evil
The commandment to destroy any vestige of Amalek seems strange. There is no such commandment with other enemies of the Jewish people throughout our history. Why such a commandment?
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Pharaoh Misled Himself
Pharaoh accused Moses of lying. Moses had said that the Jews had to go three days to worship God. At no time did Moses say that they would be returning. Pharaoh misled himself into believing that they would.
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God Knows Your Actions
The first born who were killed in Egypt were the first born of any coupling. This was to reveal the immorality of Egypt and why God needed to get the Jews out of Egypt. To get them away from an immoral society.
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Pharaoh is Human, Not a God
The purpose of the plagues was to teach that all are human, that all are equal before God.
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If There Is No Man, Be A Man
The Torah relates that when Moses came upon the Egyptian beating a Jew he looked up and down and did not see a man. That means he saw other people but no one willing to take a stand against the injustice before their eyes.
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Pharoah’s Lesson to the Jews
We have to remember that no matter how nice the government is to us in the beginning in the end they will act in their own self-interest.
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Actions Mean More Than Intentions
Esau’s head ended up on Isaac chest. Esau had good intentions, but he always did the wrong thing.
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A Leader Needs to be Humble
When Jacob gives Judah the blessing of leadership, it was because of his natural ability to lead was tied to his innate sense of humility. This is what made Judah a great leader.
