And behold, it was a weeping boy... and she said, "This is one of the Hebrews' children" (Ex. 2:6)
How could Pharaoh's daughter have recognized that the child was Jewish, just from his cry? This is because a Jewish cry is unique; even when he weeps, a Jew is filled with hope. (Rabbi Mordechai Chaim of Slonim)
And an angel of G-d appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the thorn bush; and he looked, and behold, the thorn bush was burning with fire, but the thorn bush was not consumed (Ex. 3:2)
A person is likened to a tree of the field: the Torah Sage is a fruit-bearing tree and the simple Jew is like a tree that does not give fruit. Nonetheless, the "flame of fire" burns precisely in the "thorn bush" - in the simple Jew. A Jew who prays and recites Psalms with simple faith in G-d possesses a fire of holiness derived from purity of heart, even if he does not understand the words. Furthermore, the "thorn bush is not consumed"; the burning flame of the simple Jew can never be extinguished, as he is perpetually thirsty for Torah. (The Baal Shem Tov)
He returned to Egypt; and Moses took the staff of G-d in his hand (Ex. 4:20)
While Moses certainly showed Pharaoh the proper honor due a king, he nonetheless "took the staff of G-d in his hand" in all his dealings with him; he was prideful in his heritage, imbued with an attitude of G-dly assurance, and without any feelings of inferiority. (Likutei Sichot)
Moses returned to G-d and said, "L-rd! Why have You mistreated this people? Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your Name, he made things worse... You have not saved this people at all" (Ex. 5:22-23)
We mustn't resign ourselves to the present exile with the excuse that "such is the will of G-d." The Redemption is near, yet it is still bitter and painful. Therefore, even while reaffirming our absolute faith that "the ways of G-d are just," we are also to express our anguish with the prayerful outcry "How much longer?" and ask for the immediate coming of Moshiach. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe, 5743)
Reprinted from the Parashat Shemos - December 27, 2002 - 22 Tevet, 5763 edition of L’Chaim,