It is interesting that in the beginning of this week’s Parsha we find Moshe very involved with Yosef (taking along his coffin), and immediately, the very next Passuk says: םיִשֻׁמֲחַו that the Yidden went out with weapons. The Meforshim ask why did the Yidden go out armed? Leaving “Mitzrayim” means leaving the Yetzer Hara (especially of Z’nus), and the leader in fighting this Yetzer Hara is Yosef HaTzaddik. Yosef paved the way for Middas HaYesod, and thanks to Yosef, the Yidden were able to withstand this Yetzer Hara (Medrash) which is related specifically to Mitzrayim. Z’nus is the #1 sin, which turns a person into an animal; and those that overcome this Yetzer Hara are like Malachim.
Mitzrayim symbolizes a place without self-control. Its name, “Mitzrayim” comes from the word: ֵמ ַצי ר Meitzar, which is a Lashon of being “confined” and unable to break-free of bad habits. That’s why Moshe was busy with Yosef, since Yosef was the forerunner in paving the way in battling the Yetzer Hara and becoming great by being Mis'gaber over his Tevah (nature). This explains the connection between these two Pesukim. Moshe is now the leader of Klal Yisrael, and he is emulating Yosef. And the Yidden are going out of “Mitzrayim”, armed with tactics how to fight the Yetzer Hara, and that’s why Yosef goes along with them. He is their hero and their inspiration forever.
This also explains why the Yidden are repeatedly called: תוֹאְבִצ ה' the warriors of Hashem. Notice that they are called: תוֹאְבִצ ה ' the warriors of Hashem when they are making the Matzos. Why? The word Matza means fighting ) ןוֹשָׁל ַמ ָצה וּ ְמ ִר ָביה( because in order to prevent the dough from rising, you must beat it, otherwise it becomes Chametz. What is special about fighting, that the Yidden are called: תוֹאְבִצ ה ' the warriors of Hashem, and why is Chametz the bad guy (as it says: ַמַּה תֶא םֶתְּרַמְשׁוּוֹצּת בא יב יז guard the Matzos, and Rashi explains “guard it from becoming Chametz”)?
The Biggest Thrill in Life Is to Fight Against the Yetzer Hara
We can suggest that doing the Ratzon Hashem makes you a soldier. A “soldier” is a person that follows orders. Matza represents the “fight” against the Yetzer Hara. You control your Ta’avos and you beat your desires; akin to when you bang the Matza and you don’t let it blow up. A Mitzri does whatever he wants, whereas a Yid has to fight, and be on guard to control himself. A human being was created to grow, by fighting his Tevah (nature). This constant struggle is the biggest thrill in life, and the biggest Simcha is to fight against the Yetzer Hara. People who are addicted to sin get depressed. A human is a piece of Hashem. He wants Gevura, and that we should become great like Hashem, the “Creator” of the world. Going against your nature is the biggest form of a human’s creativity.
Your Hardships and Challenges in Life Are the Shechina in Disguise
Leading before the Yidden in the Midbar was the ןָנָﬠ (special cloud) which represented the Shechina. But doesn’t a cloud symbolize darkness (dirty and cloudy)? We can suggest because your darkness in your life is your challenges, and those hardships are the things that lead you to get places and to grow. Your challenges are going to help you, and if you aim at overcoming them, then you will get places. R’ Chatzkel Levenstein Zatzal said: “Those who struggle with their Yetzer Hara are Gedolim, even if they are on a lower Madrega than those who don’t struggle, and will get much more Sachar (so stop kvetching, and stop calling yourself a Rasha!)”
Cloudy means it’s going to rain. All you have to do is plant the seeds and try. We cannot overcome the Yetzer Hara without Hashem’s help, as Chazal say: ˂וּרָבּ שׁוֹדָקַּה אֵלָמְלִא וֹרְזוֹע אוּה , וֹל לוֹכָי וֹניֵא ב ל ןישודק ,ב בנ הכוס Hashem will help you overcome the Yetzer Hara, and without Hashem you cannot do anything. You plant seeds to overcome your Nisyonos, and Hashem will send the rain and you'll Shteig and become great.
Those Who Fight the Yetzer Hara Are the Happiest People in The World
Moshe symbolizes the power of a human being overcoming his nature. That’s why it says: ַבּ וּניִמֲאַיַּוה' וֹדְּבַﬠ הֶשׁמְבוּ יד לא they believed in Moshe; i.e., we have to believe in the power a human being to overcome his nature. And that’s why Moshe was the one to do all the Nissim, because when you become a Melech over yourself and your personal weaknesses, then you get the power to overcome the Tevah (nature) of the world. The Chovos Halvavos says that Tevah (the forces of nature) become your servants when you are on top of yourself, like Rabbi Pinchos ben Yair who split the River Gi'noi and Daniel to whom the lions were like gentle puppies. He refrained from eating Treife royal meat, and was a major: ִמ ְת ַג ֵבּ ַﬠ ר ִי ל ְצרוֹ (person who overcame his Yetzer Hara). That’s what Moshe teaches us; i.e., that by overcoming his Yetzer Hara a human “creates” himself, and in this way, he is like Hashem, the Creator of the world.
