Arrogance of Afflicting Nations

A question is asked regarding the Egyptian people. If it was predestined that the Jewish people were meant to be slaves, why were they punished so severely?

Avraham Avinu was already told that his children would be strangers in a strange land. They would be enslaved and tortured, but afterwards they would leave with great wealth.

The answer that is given is that despite the fact that this was Hashem’s plan, they afflicted us with too much enthusiasm. That is why they deserved to be punished.

Similarly, we see this in future exiles. The Jews were warned that if they did not behave, they would be punished by neighboring nations.

When this came to pass, Hashem would remark that as much as the Jewish people had rebelled and were worthy of punishment, the arrogance of the afflicting nations, angered Him more.

They foolishly believed that it was their strength and the strength of their hands, that brought them to victory over the Jewish people.

This arrogance angered Hashem even more to the point that these nations would perish completely, while the Jewish people would return to G-d.

We must remember that Hashem is really the G-d of justice. In the end, truth will reign supreme, and everyone will get exactly what they deserve in the end. This is the day when Hashem will be One and his name will be One.