There's a fascinating moment in the unfolding story of the plagues that should make us stop and take notice.

Seven plagues have now struck Egypt. The people are suffering.

Several times Pharaoh seems to soften, only to harden his heart again.

During the seventh plague, Hale, even seems to admit his mistake.

It says Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said,

this time I have sinned.

The Lord is in the right and I and my people are in the wrong.

But as soon as the plague is over, he changes his mind.

He and his officials said the Torah hardened their hearts.

And now Moses and Aaron have come to tell him about the next plague,

potentially devastating, a plague of locusts.

That, they say, will devour all the grain left after the hail

as well as the fruit of the trees.

And for the first time we hear something we haven't heard before.

Pharaoh's own advisors, tell him he's making a mistake.

Pharaoh's official said to him,

How long will this man be a snare to us?

Let the people go so that they may worship the Lord their God.

Haterem Tehaki of Damitshrim, don't you realize that Egypt is ruined?

Those words immediately transform the situation. Let me explain how. Back in 1984, the historian Barbara

Tuckman published a famous book called The March of Folly.

In it, she asked the great question, how is it that throughout history, intelligent people

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