The Pathologies of Exile

The Israelites were exiled in Egypt and forced to engage in slave labor, yet, when their redemption finally came, there were some who didn’t want to leave exile! Life became easy as soon as the slave-labor ceased, so they began complaining, “Why do we need to search for Torah and Judaism in the desert, and follow a wild individual like Moses? We have a competent king, culture and wisdom – let’s remain. But God sent a warning through Moses, that Pharaoh will “banish them from his land.” A Jew isn’t given a choice in the matter.

Why does Torah relate this story? It’s relevant for us to know, that before the final redemption arrives, we will find ourselves in the profound darkness of exile. Torah warns us not to repeat this mistake. We must always remember that “God is our Ruler, He is our King and our Savior, He will redeem us very soon.”