Discover Your True Potential: Lessons from Exodus, Pharaoh, and the Power of Self-Awareness

Within each of us operates a system of traits and character tendencies. Often, we find ourselves damaging and being damaged by anger, jealousy, hatred, competition, pride, and arrogance.

How quickly do we act to fix ourselves?

It turns out this is human nature: no matter how much a person loses, they tend to ignore their own flaws.

The Moshe Chaim Luzzatto called this phenomenon “willed blindness” (Mesillat Yesharim, ch. 2) — a person chooses not to see their own shortcomings.

Eventually, we will wake up, but if it happens too late, the pain can be unbearable. Just as we see with Pharaoh.

Pharaoh’s Regret

Despite the joy of the Exodus, our portion begins with a tone of sorrow: “And it came to pass when Pharaoh sent the people…” (Exodus 13:17). The phrase “And it came to pass” (vayehi) often indicates sorrow (Talmud, Megillah 10b).

Who was distressed by the Exodus?

The Sages teach that when Pharaoh sent the Israelites away, his ministers said to him: “What have you done? How many wealthy people were among them? How many wise men and skilled craftsmen?” At that moment, Pharaoh began to cry out: “Woe, woe!” — hence, “And it came to pass when Pharaoh sent…”

But what did they tell him that he didn’t already know? The Israelites had been enslaved for 210 years — surely Pharaoh knew who his slaves were.

The answer becomes clear when we reflect.

The Ring That Was Misjudged

A young boy approached his teacher and said, “Everyone says I’m foolish and unsuccessful. How can I earn respect?”

The teacher replied, “I’m sorry, I’m very busy right now with my own problem.”

The boy turned to leave, discouraged. Then the teacher called him back: “On second thought, if you help me solve my problem, I might help you with yours.”

The teacher handed him a ring and said, “Go to the market and try to sell this ring, but do not sell it for less than one gold coin.”

The boy went to the market. Merchants gathered around, examined the ring, and when they heard the price, they burst out laughing.

Embarrassed, the boy returned to the teacher. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I failed. I couldn’t convince anyone it was worth that much.”

The teacher then said, “Go to a jeweler, but don’t sell it for any price.”

The jeweler examined the ring carefully and said, “Today I can offer you 58 gold coins. In a week, I might offer 70.”

The boy ran back excitedly.

“Do you understand?” the teacher said. “You are like that ring. You are a treasure — unique and valuable, but not everyone can recognize your worth. Only an expert can truly see your value.”

Not Knowing Our Own Worth

This is like a simple villager carrying his produce to the market. Along the way, he thought: “How good it is that I have legs to walk, shoulders to carry, and hands to hold the load. But what is the head for?”

After much thought, he concluded: “Of course! The head is for wearing a hat to protect from the sun…”

Like fools who sit in high places but don’t understand their purpose, he didn’t realize the true value of what he had.

The Message of the Exodus

Our portion, Beshalach, describes a historic moment — no slave had ever left Egypt (Mechilta) except the Jewish people. This is certainly a moment of joy.

Yet the Torah highlights Pharaoh’s regret to teach us something powerful.

Among the Israelites were talented, skilled individuals — “wise men and craftsmen.” Instead of using their abilities, Pharaoh forced them into hard labor, wasting their potential.

What a painful realization, to discover how much you destroyed when you could have built and grown. Pharaoh’s cry of “Woe, woe!” should echo within us.

Recognizing Your Potential

Every person has talents and abilities with which they can change the world. Yet often, a person does not recognize their own worth, and sees themselves as lacking value. The results follow accordingly.

The Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman once said: “How tragic that the decision of whether someone will become a great leader of the next generation is placed in the hands of a fourteen-year-old boy.”

Who determines a person’s future? Often, it is the person themselves — at a young age, without awareness. A person sets their own limits and rushes toward them, without pausing to consider whether they are capable of far greater heights.

As Rabbeinu Yonah teaches: once a person chooses a path, they often continue on it blindly.

As Rabbi Shteinman taught: A person must know three things: who they are, what they can become, and what they are destined to become.

And then, begin to act.