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This week we read the Torah portion Bo. The Parshah begins with Hashem’s command to Moshe[1] “… Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, so that I may place My signs among his nation.” Rashi explains why Hashem commanded Moshe to come to Pharaoh with the words “and warn him.” In other words, Hashem commanded him to go to Pharaoh to warn him of the consequences of not listening to Hashem.
We need to understand this. The verse where Hashem tells Moshe to come to Pharaoh to warn him against his negative actions tells us that Hashem has hardened his heart. It would seem that the purpose of warning him is so that he changes his attitude and does Teshuvah for his past misdeeds. If Hashem hardened his heart, how could he possibly do Teshuvah?
We can explain this according to a teaching of the Alter Rebbe in Tanya[2]. There are several instances in which the Sages say Hashem does not grant one the opportunity to do Teshuvah[3]. The Sages are particular in their language and do not say Hashem prevents them from doing Teshuvah, and they say that Hashem does not give him a chance to repent. “However, if he pressed forcefully and overpowered his evil impulse and did repent, his Teshuvah is accepted.”
Although Hashem hardened Pharaoh’s heart, he still had the free will to strengthen himself and do Teshuvah. By writing that Moshe’s purpose of coming to Pharaoh was to “warn him,” Rashi teaches us that he, too, was able to do Teshuvah; after all, the reason for warning someone is to see to it that he heeds the warning.
The above teaches us that one must never feel that he is too far gone to return to Hashem. The wicked king of Egypt who enslaved the Jews and refused to listen to Hashem and allow the Jews to leave Egypt was able to repent, i.e., return to G-d. How much more so is this true of every one of us.
The Rambam tells us[4] that when the Jews do Teshuvah, they will immediately be redeemed. So too, may we see the Geulah immediately.
I wish one and all a good Shabbos and a good month!
Rabbi Shmuel Mendelsohn
Adapted from Likkutei Sichos Volume 6, Page 65
DEDICATED IN HONOR OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE
The Soldiers of Tzivos Hashem Chaim, Aiden Oded, and Zacharya Matan שיחיו Morris
HONOR OF
DEDICATED BY THEIR PARENTS
Rabbi & Mrs. Menachem M. and Chaya Mushka שיחיו Morris
[1]. Our Parshah, Shemos 10:1.
[2]. For the following, see Igerres Hateshuvah, end of Chapter 11.
[3]. See Talmud Yoma 85, b.
[4]. Laws of Teshuvah, Chapter 7, Paragraph 5.
The Rebbe Teaches Rashi 
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