The Baal Shem Tov zy”a (quoted in Degel Machaneh Efraim, Parshas Va’eira) asks why Hashem would perform all of these great miracles and wonders simply so that Mitzrayim should know that He is Hashem. Was this really important enough to change nature and perform such wonders?
The Imrei Emes zy”a (quoted in Likutei Yehuda) answers that “Mitzrayim” symbolizes people who are on a lowly level, who are known as “metzarim” (people trapped within narrow boundaries). Hashem was saying that these people will know that He is Hashem and He can even lift them to great heights.
This will also occur by the ultimate redemption, as the pasuk states (Yeshaya 26:13): “And it will be on that day and a great shofar will be blown and the lost ones will come from the land of Ashur and the scattered ones from the land of Mitzrayim (i.e., the people caught in ‘meitzarim’) and they will bow to Hashem on the holy mountain in Yerushalaim.” This is also stated in the verse (ibid 19:25): “Blessed is My nation Mitzrayim and My handiwork Ashur and My portion Yisroel.”
