At the end of this week's parsha, Exod. 9:33, Rashi points out an interesting choice of words. In the verse: "...and the thunders and the hail ceased and rain was not poured upon the earth." The word used for poured - "Nitach" has two different occurrences in the Bible. In Daniel 9:11 it is used in the context of reached: "And so there has reached us the curse and the oath" while in Ezekiel 22:22 it is used as poured: "As silver is poured out". Both poured and reached are meanings contained in the word "Nitach".
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson points out that both meanings have significance in the verse of Exodus. If the rain did not reach the ground it would mean that Moses prayer stopped the rain in midair while if we say it did not pour to the ground then it actually melted and transformed back into cloud form, a complete reversal of the rain process.
These two possibilities the rain being hung in midair, and transforming back into clouds reflect the two possible impacts of Pharao's repentance, and therefore can teach us about the power of repentance overall. If repentance is stimulated by fear of punishment then it merely has the power to freeze the ongoing wickedness in one's life while if the repentance is motivated by a reawakening of one's love for G-d then it doesn't just freeze one's progress but it brings about a complete transformation and reversal - one's sins are transformed to merits.
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