But there is another lesson that emerges from the plagues, one that is especially relevant today: the Jewish attitude toward power. The Torah teaches that power, in and of itself, is not inherently evil, and that there is no Jewish value in being weak or defenseless. Through the plagues, Moshe and the Jewish people were made to appear strong. The Egyptians came to fear and even admire Moshe, and the standing of the Jewish people was dramatically elevated. The ability of the Israelites to confront and overcome a formidable threat enhanced their position in the world. We affirm this every day in the Az Yashir prayer: “Namagu kol yoshevei K’naan” — “the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.” After the Ten Plagues and the splitting of the Sea, the Jewish people were perceived as powerful, and that reputation reverberates throughout the Chumash and into the Neviim. Time and again, we encounter a nation capable of wielding power responsibly, producing leaders and warriors such as Shimshon and King David, who embodied strength in the service of God and moral purpose.

The Torah never glorified war or power, but it also never puts it down, especially when it was necessary for self-defense.  When the nation of Midian joined Moav........

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