God is Above the Astrologers

In Shmot 1:22 we read: “Pharaoh then commanded all his people saying: ‘Every boy who is born must be thrown into the river; but every girl shall be allowed to live.’”

According to Rashi, The Egyptians were also subjected to this terrible decree. On the day that Moshe was born, Pharaoh’s astrologers told him. “Today their savior was born, we do not know if he is from the Egyptians or the Jews, but we foresee that he is destined to be smitten through water.” Therefore, on that day, Pharaoh issued a decree also regarding the Egyptians, as it is said: “Every son that will be born must be thrown into the water” and it does not say: “Every son that will be born to the Hebrews…”

The astrologers and Pharaoh did not know that they got it all wrong. Moshe was destined to die because of the waters of Meriva (when he would hit the rock in order to get water from it instead of following God’s command of speaking to the rock). Although he died before B’nei Yisrael entered the Land of Israel, he did not die in the waters of the Nile.

In his comment on the Talmud, Sotah 12a, Rashi adds: When the day passed and the astrologers saw that the savior of the Jews had not yet been stricken, Pharaoh decided to keep the universal decree in force until the day that the unknown savior would be thrown in the river.

Maharal explains that the astrologers were unable to tell if the future leader (Moshe) was a Jew or an Egyptian since he was destined to be raised by Pharaoh’s daughter. In the Talmud, Megilla 13a we learn that “Whoever raises an orphan within their house is considered as if they gave birth to the child.”

In the Talmud, Shabbat 156a Rabbi Yochanan teaches: From where do we know that the celestial signs hold no sway over Israel? It says in Jeremiah 10:2:  “So says God: Do not adopt the way of the nations and do not fear the signs of the heavens, for the nations fear them.” Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav: From where do we know that the celestial signs hold no sway over Israel? As it says in Breisheet 15:5: “God took him (Avraham) outside and said ‘Look towards the heavens and count the stars if you are able to count them.’ He (God) then said to him ‘So numerous will your descendents be.’” Rav Yehuda continues: Avraham said: Master of the Universe, I have already consulted my astrology and I am not fit to bear a son! God said to him: Go outside of your astrology, for the celestial signs hold no sway over Israel.

We learn from here that the Jewish people are not bound by astrology. Instead of sitting around reading the horoscopes, take the opportunity to go out and change your destiny.