After many years of enslavement in Egypt, our ancestors had difficulty imagining any other type of existence. Today as well, after thousands of years in exile, many Jews find the concepts of Moshiach and redemption foreign.
Acquiring the Wealth of Egypt
G‑d’s purpose in creating the condition of exile can be understood by analyzing the first exile in Egypt. In His covenant with Avraham, G‑d decreed, “your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs. They shall serve them and they shall be afflicted by them for four hundred years.... I will also judge the nation that they serve, and afterwards they will leave with great wealth.” This decree was fulfilled when the Jewish people descended to Egypt. The conclusion of the decree, “afterwards they will leave with great wealth,” is the key to understanding the purpose of exile.
Before the Exodus, G‑d commanded Moshe, “speak, please, in the ears of the people, and let every man ask his fellow, and every woman ask her fellow, for vessels of silver and vessels of gold.” The word “please” indicates a request. Our Sages explain that with this request, G‑d was saying: “Let not that tzaddik (Avraham) say, ‘the prophecy that they shall serve them and they shall be afflicted by them was fulfilled, but the promise that later they will leave with great wealth was not fulfilled.’” The acquisition of Egypt’s wealth was an objective not only for the Jews, but also for G‑d Himself, as it were.
Revealing the G‑dliness Within
The acquisition of Egypt’s wealth is part of the mission of the Jewish people, and helps explain the purpose for exile. The G‑dly life-force which sustains the world is concealed within its material substance.
The Jewish people have been assigned the task of revealing that inner G‑dliness by utilizing material objects for G‑dly purposes. As a classical chassidic prayer asks, “G‑d, grant Your people material blessings and they will show You how they can transform them into spirituality.” By using our material blessings to serve G‑d, we make the entire world a dwelling for Him.
At every stage in history, the Jewish people were given a specific dimension of the world to elevate. Through their servitude in Egypt, they were able to reveal the G‑dly life-force latent within the land of Egypt. Once this task was completed, they acquired the entire wealth of Egypt.
A similar mission has been given to the Jews in subsequent exiles. Our Sages state that G‑d exiled the Jewish people in order that converts should be enabled to join them. Chassidus extends the word “convert” to mean not only individuals who accept Judaism, but also the sparks of the G‑dly life-force which are hidden within the world’s material substance and are revealed through the service of our people.
Leading to Moshiach
Accordingly, the Jews have wandered throughout history from country to country fulfilling a unique G‑dly mission, revealing the sparks of G‑dliness in different lands by utilizing their physical substance in the fulfillment of mitzvot.
The many years of slavery in Egypt were a necessary stage in the process that led to the Exodus. Similarly, the purpose of the present exile is the ultimate Redemption. Since, in the Era of the Redemption, G‑dliness will be revealed in all places and all things, the service that prepares for that revelation must be likewise all-inclusive.
For this reason our people have been dispersed throughout the world and have been involved in every aspect of existence. Each person’s efforts in making his environment a dwelling place for G‑d will prepare the entire world for the era when, “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of G‑d as the waters cover the ocean bed.”
From the teachings of the Rebbe; adapted from Timeless Patterns in Time, reprinted with perm. from Sichos in English.
