DAVKA BITTERNESS CAN CAUSE SWEETNESS
Why did Hashem tell Moshe to use a bitter piece of wood to sweeten the bitter waters? First of all, He wanted to make a joke out of Tevah (nature) and to show that for Hashem, it’s all the same. Hashem gave us Yetzias Mitzrayim, and “Mitzrayim” means “boundaries” and “rules” of Tevah (nature). Through all the Nissim in Mitzrayim, Tevah (nature) became a joke, and indeed it says: אֲ שֶ רֵהִׁ תְ עַ לַ לְ תִׁ יֵבְ מִׁ צְ רַ יִֵׁםֵֵבאֵיֵב that Hashem made “fun” of Mitzrayim (which symbolizes “rules” and “confinement”).
We can also suggest that Hashem was showing how everything He does is L’tovah, and Davka bitterness can cause sweetness. Also, the first time the Torah mentions Miriam’s name is by the Shira (song). Miriam was called Miriam since she was born during bitter times וַיְֵ(מָ רֲ רוֵּ אֶ תֵ חַ י יהֶ ם). The Torah is showing us how Davka Miriam, which means bitterness, can take: הַ תֹּ ףֵבְ יָדָ ה a drum in her hand, and sing the most beautiful Shira (song).
Hashem knows what He’s doing. Being in Mitzrayim, which is called: כוּרֵהַ בַ רְ זֶלֵֵואתחנןֵדֵ כֵ the iron furnace (used for purifying gold), created a humble and compassionate nation, since in their very beginning they suffered. Look what became of Sedom, since it was: כְ גַןֵֵה'ֵֵלךֵ יגֵ י like the garden of Hashem, and people never suffered! From now on, appreciate the bitterness and suffering of your life!
My mother-in-law was tortured in Auschwitz by an extra-cruel SS Nazi woman. Suddenly, she became nice and compassionate, and they found out that an American bomb had hit her home, killing her husband and three children!
No more complaining about the Yissurim of your life! The main thing is NOT how well you are doing in Ruchaniyus and Gashmiyus. The main thing in life is: How do your Middos look. Are you humble and kind, and not arrogant and haughty? Don’t be impressed with all those successful people who are humble despite their success.
Deep down, there is plenty of Ga'ava that you don’t know about. Although we don’t ask for Yissurim, when we get them, they are a major asset to our Neshama. And Mitzrayim was destroyed because of their Ga'ava, like Hashem told Paroh: עַ דֵמָ תַ יֵמ אַ נְ תָ ֵל עָ נֹּתֵמִׁ פָ נָיֵֵיֵגֵ “How long will you stubbornly refuse to have Hachna'a and be humbled before Me?”
