Parashat Vaera – Opening Questions

What was the purpose of the Plagues? What lessons were both the Egyptians and Israelites supposed to take from them?
How can Hashem harden Paroh's heart and take away his free will? And if Hashem did so, how can He then punish Paroh?
Whom and where did the Plagues strike? Were just the Egyptians affected or did the Israelites suffer as well?
Why did Hashem instruct Moshe to request only a three day holiday?
To what extent were the Plagues a purely supernatural process?

Parashat Vaera/Questions