“Moses was afraid, and he said, “Now the thing is known.” (Exodus 2:14)

“What Moses meant was: Now I know that there is evil gossip among the Jews, and if so, how are they fit to be redeemed?” (Midrash Tanchuma)

But how is this possible? How could the entire Jewish nation deserve such brutal slavery and oppression only because of a few gossipers?

Rather, what Moses meant was this:

The Jewish Nation was to be redeemed despite their sins, despite wallowing in the corruption, idolatry, and depravity of Egypt. They were to be redeemed because G‑d had chosen the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be His holy nation.

But if one Jew can speak badly of another Jew, in what way are they a nation?

And so now Moses could see some meaning in their suffering. It was a crucial part of the process.

Because through the suffering their hearts were softened. And then they could merge together as a single being.

And then they could be redeemed.

Speak only good about the other guy. Allow a little oneness into this world.

Likutei Sichot vol. 31, pp. 8-14.