Throughout the parshiyos leading up to Yetzi'as Mitzrayim, Moshe is directed by Hashem to warn Pharaoh that the Makkos are being visited upon him and his nation in order that Pharaoh and Mitzrayim recognize the greatness, uniqueness and might of Hashem.

Why was this necessary? Whatever ideological impact on Mitzrayim that the Makkos may have achieved was temporary and forgotten, having no lasting effect. Although we find that many non-Jews converted to Judaism during the Persian and Roman conquests, we have no such record of Egyptians embracing Judaism during or immediately after the period of that country's enslavement of the Hebrews, nor did monotheism replace the idolatrous ways of Egypt in that era. Whatever belief in Hashem on the part of the Mitzrim that may have been attained at the time of the Makkos obviously dissipated and did not last long. Why, then, did Hashem proclaim that the goal of the Plagues was for Mitzrayim to recognize and admit to His greatness, if such recognition and admission were to quickly fizzle out?

There is a principle that governs the deliberations of a beis din handling a capital offense, which states that the younger, less-seasoned members of the beis din must put forth their arguments in each case prior to the more senior and expert dayanim doing so. (V. Sanhedrin 32a and 36a.) According to some interpretations, this is in order that the younger and less-seasoned members not be inhibited from expressing their opinions. This protocol is a reflection of human psychology, for one who feels that another is superior to himself will give more weight to the other's views and will not be of an objective mindset, even if he has every reason to be confident in his own position and attitude. In order that the dayanim of lesser stature evaluate the case objectively and not subconsciously adopt the approaches of the senior judges, to whose views they would naturally and instinctively defer, these less-seasoned dayanim must present their analyses first.

The Makkos, Yetzi'as Mitzrayim, Mattan Torah and the entire experience in the Midbar were designed to instill emunah and commitment in the nascent Jewish nation; all that occurred to B'nei Yisroel was geared to maximize this goal. B'nei Yisroel were slaves and had been trained by the Egyptians for generations to view the latter as superior to themselves. Therefore, it was not sufficient for B'nei Yisroel to merely witness the supernatural afflictions that befell the Mitzrim, in order to be inspired to the fullest degree of belief and commitment to Hashem. Rather, Hashem sought for Pharaoh and his people themselves to openly admit to His might and ultimate mastery over all, for when one sees that another whom he feels is superior, and who normally dismisses or negates a concept, all of a sudden totally endorses and embraces that concept with unparalleled conviction, the impact on the first party is quite potent. Just as the less-experienced member of the beis din may be swayed by the opinion of the senior member more than by his own strong convictions, in an even greater manner were the Jewish slaves dramatically and seismically struck with an overwhelmingly powerful belief in Hashem when witnessing the idolatrous and seemingly superior Egyptians profess unconditional and absolute belief in Him and His omnipotence.

This is why - for the ultimate sake of B'nei Yisroel themselves - Hashem dictated that Pharaoh and his nation must openly admit to His wonders. May we again experience such wonders soon.