The Torah refers to the Jewish people in two ways: "ישראל" and "עם". Chazal (Bamidbar Rabba 2:23) tell us that when the Torah calls the Jewish people ישראל, it is שבח לשון, a positive expression, recounting their praises. However, "Whenever it states העם, it is גנאי לשון, derogatory."
Avnei Nezer zt'l (quoted in Shem MiShmuel p.70) explains that עם means nation but can also be translated as extinguished coals (see Yechezkel 31:8, עֲמָמ ֻהוּ לֹא אֲר ָזִים). Coals that aren't hot anymore. עם is a negative description of the Jewish nation because a Yid should serve Hashem with a fire in his heart, with hislahavus, and not with disinterest and lacking emotion.
It states in this week's parashah (6:7) וְלָקַחְתִּי לְעָם לִי אֶתְכֶם, "I shall take you for Me, to be a nation." This pasuk is saying that Hashem chose the Jewish people, made them His nation, and gave them His Torah. So why is עָם used to describe Bnei Yisroel in this pasuk?
Avnei Nezer answers: ...להם היא בשורה, "The Torah is telling them good tidings. Even when they have התלהבות בלתי המוחין קטנות, which means their hearts and their minds are uninspired, nevertheless, נרצים יהיו, they will be desired by Hashem, and their good deeds will be appreciated. Their good deeds will accomplish [great things] in the upper and lower worlds."
In other words, the Torah calls them עם in this pasuk to tell us that even when they are in their lowest state, Hashem chose them and desires them and their mitzvos.
Tehillim (148:14) states, ק ְרֹבוֹ עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל לִבְנֵי הּ"ה ַ לְ לוּיָ. Yesod HaAvodah zt'l explains that לִבְנֵי is from the word בינה, understanding. לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל means the Jewish nation understands, עַם, that even when they are on the low level of עַם, which means that they lack emotion, and they serve Hashem coldly, like extinguished coals, even then ק ְרֹבוֹ עַם, they are close to Hashem. They are always close to Hashem because they are ממעל ה-אלו חלק, a part of Hashem. Therefore, הּ"ה ַ לְ לוּיָ, praise Hashem.
Similarly, it states (Yeshayah 55:6) בִּה ְיוֹתוֹ קְרָא ֻהוּ קָרוֹב, "Call upon Him when He is near." The Yesod HaAvodah notes that the beginning of the phrase contradicts its end. קְרָא ֻהוּ means to call out. One calls out to those who are far away, not to someone who is nearby. Why does the pasuk say, קָרוֹב בִּה ְיוֹתוֹ קְרָא ֻהוּ, "Call upon Him when He is near"?
Yesod HaAvodah answers that the pasuk is discussing a person who feels that he is very far away. He should tell himself, "From my perspective, I am far from Hashem. But from Hashem's perspective, I am very close to Him. I call out to Hashem because I think He is far away, but Hashem is always near to me."
We must acquire this mindset. We must recognize that Hashem always loves us, and He accepts our Torah and mitzvos.
It states in next week's parashah (12:39) כִּי חָמֵץ לֹא כִּי מ ַצּוֹת ע ֻגֹת מִמ ִּצְר ַיִם הוֹצִיאוּ ֶׁראֲש ה ַבָּצֵק אֶת וַיֹּאפוּ לָהֶם עָשׂוּ לֹא צֵדָה וְגַם ַּלְהִתְמַהְמֵה יָכְ לוּ וְלֹא מִמ ִּצְר ַיִם גֹרְשׁוּ, "They baked the dough that they took out of Mitzrayim into matzah cakes. They could not be chametz, for they were driven from Mitzrayim, and they could not delay, not had they made provisions for themselves."
The Arizal explains that the Jewish nation had fallen to the 49th gate of tumah. If they stayed in Mitzrayim even a moment longer, they would have fallen into the 50th gate of tumah, which is a place of no return. This is the reason they had to leave Mitzrayim very quickly.
We still need to understand why Hashem waited for the last moment to take them out of Mitzrayim? Hashem could have taken them out of Mitzrayim a few days earlier, when they could leave peacefully and tranquilly, with prepared food for the trip.
But the answer is that Hashem wanted to give chizuk to the Yidden of our generation. They shouldn't think that Hashem isn't interested in them, and that Hashem won't perform miracles for them. Just as Hashem performed miracles for Klal Yisrael in Mitzrayim when they were at the 49th gate of tumah, Hashem will save them today, no matter what level they are on. Hashem will save them from their struggles and from their troubles, and Hashem will bring them Moshiach.
