וְכַאֲשֶ ׁר יְעַנּוּ אֹתוֹ כֵּן יִרְ בֶּה וְכֵן יִפְרֹץ וגו' (א, יב)
And as much as they would afflict them, so did they multiply and so did they spread out... (1:12)
Physical Affliction Creates Merits:
Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov zy”a (quoted in Mishnas HaRamal) explains that it is known that if someone tries to purify himself, Hashem assists him. The main way to sanctify and purify oneself is by refraining from physical pleasures and afflicting the body as much as one can stand. The more one abstains from earthly pleasures, the more holiness he can achieve and the more he can connect to Hashem. In this way, one’s neshama grows stronger and he is able to do teshuva and transform his sins into merits.
Accordingly, the pasuk is saying that the more the nation was afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew. Through their physical afflictions, their merits grew.
Answering the Call to Return:
Sefer Divrei Yisroel explains this pasuk by asking a fundamental question: Why do we find that some Yidden lack what they need. Doesn’t Hashem have enough wealth to provide everyone with their needs and more?
He answers that while Hashem, of course has more than enough to provide for everyone; however, sometimes the individual obstructs himself from receiving His goodness. Sometimes, He calls to us, wanting to provide for us, but we do not answer, as is stated in the verse (Yeshaya 50:2): “Why have I come and there is no man? Why have I called and no one answers? If we do answer His call, however, He certainly gives us all we need.
Thus, he explains the word “ya’anu” in this pasuk to mean “to answer” (oneh). He translates the pasuk to be saying that when Klal Yisroel answers His call, does teshuva and returns to Hashem, they merit to be fruitful and to receive untold blessing.
He also uses this idea to explain the words of Rashi: “In whatever way they set their heart to afflict (ya’anu), so was the heart of the Hashem, to multiply and strengthen.” Again, he understands the word “ya’anu” to mean “to answer”, and explains that Rashi is saying that when they answered Hashem’s call and did teshuva, He responded by providing them with strength and blessing.
