The opening possuk introducing shibud Mitzrayim is, “Vayokom melech chodosh asher lo yoda es Yosef”. The Gemorah in Mesechta Soteh cites a machlokes if it was actually a new king or if it was the original king who enacted new decrees.
In any case, it is impossible to imagine that he did not know Yosef who ruled for eighty years. Yosef’s impact on Mitzrayim was colossal and impossible to forget. Yosef achieved tremendous prosperity for the kingdom and spared them from utter devastation from the fallout of the famine. He engineered that the kingdom took possession of every subject and turned them into slaves of the king. Yosef orchestrated that Paroh was able to repossess every piece of land and deed them to the kingdom’s ownership. Yosef amassed all the gold and silver in the entire world and brought it to the Egyptian treasury. Yosef saved the entire population from certain death of starvation.
Is it really possible to believe that the new king did not remember Yosef and his legacy?
The Medresh Tanchuma relates that Paroh’s cabinet convened to legislate actions against the Jewish people. Paroh refused, claiming that their entire existence was thanks to the Jews; how could they turn against them. It is abundantly clear that Paroh absolutely did not want to harm Klal Yisroel at all. It was the ministers who harbored evil designs against them.
The Medresh continues that upon Paroh’s persistent refusal to go along with their intentions, they removed him from his throne and threw him into jail. For ninety days he steadfastly refused to align with them. His refusal was at the risk of his personal safety, and nevertheless he clung to his ideals. After ninety days, he finally relented and was reinstated to his original position of power.
One would think that now that he returned to power, although he felt compelled to go along with his cabinet, it would be somewhat reluctantly. Certainly, one would not expect him to take a leadership role in the persecution and the harassment of the Yidden. Yet, the Torah tells us that Paroh was the one who said, Hovo nischacmo lo”. He initiated the rollout of the system to begin the shibud.
This was an astounding turnabout. From merciful and compassionate and appreciative, Paroh turned into a sadistic murderer. This was all of his own volition. His evil knew no bounds! Even at the risk of losing everything and after the entire Mitzrayim was devastated from the makos, he stuck to his guns, against the opinions of his entire nation!
How can this complete metamorphosis be understood?
Rav Dessler explains that this is not a chiddush whatsoever. Possessing good character and a good heart is wonderful. But without yiras shomayim, a person is at risk the moment a nisayon appears on the horizon. Middos cannot stand up to combat desires and urges that arise.
Only one thing can stand against the yetzer hora and that is yiras shomayim. Avrohom Avinu declared regarding Avimelech, “Rak ein yiras Elokim”. Although they were righteous people, but the lack of yiras shomayim was their pitfall and the cause for sin.
Paroh should serve as our textbook for what can become of a decent person lacking yiras shomayim.
The Sefer Mesilas Yeshorim is the roadmap to acquire yiras shomayim. He developed a methodical process to reach this goal. Slow, careful study of it on a daily basis is the prescription to become a genuine yorei shomayim.