Why We Need to Ask for Moshiach

There are those who question: “Why do you speak so much about bringing Moshiach?” “Why don’t you rely on G-d – after all, He’s the one Who sent us into Exile in the first place!” If the Jewish People in the time of Moses had followed this line of logic, at least one Mitzvah in the Torah would not have been given when it was. The Second Passover was given as a response to those who cried out to G-d over their plight.

Three times every day, a Jew begs G-d in the Amidah prayer: “May the scion of David, Your servant, flourish,” “We await Your salvation all day long.” The Midrash explains that the Jews – so to speak – take G-d by the hand and guide Him where to go. When Jews say that G-d “does not slumber or sleep” then “The Lord awakens as from slumber.” Likewise, the Midrash states, when Jews demand Redemption it comes earlier than it otherwise would.

Maimonides rules that whenever a Jew feels some lacking, he is obligated to pray and ask G-d to fill his needs. So if one feels that he is lacking Redemption then he is obligated by the Torah to ask at every opportunity, whenever it is time to pray, that G-d should fill this lacking.