The Pharaoh Within: A Journey Into the Depths of Human Nature

What truly drives us? Can we rise above self-interest and act with genuine altruism?
Understanding our true motivations is essential. In the modern vernacular, we call it our why. Only when we clarify our why can we determine what we want to achieve and how we will achieve it.
Any journey into the unknown, though romantic in theory, can also be terrifying—especially when that journey is inward. We are constantly reassured by parents and friends of our goodness. It’s comforting to accept their flattering assessments. But this very comfort makes it difficult to challenge ourselves with a fresh perspective—one that might disrupt our rhythm.
This week’s Torah portion presents a similar challenge. G-d commands Moses: “Come to Pharaoh.” The wording is unusual. Shouldn’t it say, “Go to Pharaoh”? Surely Moses, our great leader, could go on his own. Why does G-d phrase it this way?
The Zohar explains that this was no ordinary mission. Moses was being called to confront the darkest depths of human nature, embodied by Pharaoh himself—the ruler who proclaimed regarding the Nile: “My Nile is my own; I made it for myself” (Ezekiel 29:3).
Pharaoh represents the quintessential egoist—self-absorbed, self-sufficient, blind to any force beyond himself. He sees himself as self-made, owing nothing to anyone.
G-d was inviting Moses on a profound psychological journey—to enter the depths of human motivation and confront the rawest truths about human nature. Is man inherently selfish? Or does a deeper reality exist? Can we transcend ego and act with true altruism?
Moses hesitates because he understands the gravity of the question. He knows there is a fine line between the I of Pharaoh and the I of G-d. The I severed from its divine source is selfish and destructive. But the I that humbles itself before its source allows divine energy to flow freely, elevating the entire being.
History is filled with people who believed their motives were pure but were, in reality, deeply self-serving. They saw themselves as dedicated to a cause, yet their actions revealed self-indulgence.
This is why self-examination is critical. We must train ourselves to assess our true motives regularly. To develop the discipline of daily introspection.
Only then can we embark on the ultimate journey into the unknown—deep into our subconscious, where we uncover the divine spark within us, the life force that unites humanity and fosters a harmonious existence for all.
Comments