Being Freed from Egypt
In this week's parashah, the enslavement of the Jewish people reached a dramatic conclusion with the tenth plague; the death of every Egyptian firstborn. As Moshe had prophesied, Pharaoh not only granted them permission to leave, but actually chased them out of Egypt in a panic.
Just as they were leaving, the Yidden grabbed their dough before it had any time to leaven. They then bound it in their garments on their shoulders and went on to fulfill the final instruction that Moshe had given them.
"וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם כְּלֵי־כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי זָהָב וּשְׂמָלֹת." They requested silver and gold vessels and various garments from their Egyptian neighbors. The Torah informs us that Hashem bestowed חן, favor, upon the people in the eyes of the Egyptians. Therefore the Egyptians granted their requests. As a result, וַיְנַצְּלוּ אֶת־מִצְרָיִם, they emptied Egypt of its valuables.
In the Midrash, Rav Huna states in the name of Bar Kappara that "The Yidden were redeemed from Egypt because they adhered to four things; they did not change their names, their language, and they did not engage in talebearing, and none of them was found to have been involved in immoral behavior." This steadfast adherence to their values and identity is why they merited their redemption.
(מדרש רבה ויקרא לב ה)