Parshas Bo 5786 - Hope and Faith

After the tenth and final plague, Pharaoh sent the Jews out of Egypt. The Torah describes how they prepared for their journey into the wilderness:

“And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had taken out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, since they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay; nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.” (Shemos 12:39).

The Torah explains that we eat matzah on Pesach because the Jews were driven out of Egypt so quickly that their dough did not have time to rise. But what does the final phrase — “nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves” — add?

Rashi explains that this phrase highlights the extraordinary praise of the Jewish people. They left Egypt without food supplies, trusting completely that Hashem would provide for them in the desert. This trust is so profound that the prophet Yirmiyahu later describes the Jewish people as a bride who follows her beloved into a barren wilderness:

“I remember in your favor, the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, when you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.” (Yirmiyahu 2:3).

Yet this praise seems puzzling. The Jewish people had just witnessed ten miraculous plagues, in which Egypt was devastated while the Jews were unharmed. They saw Hashem’s power openly displayed and His determination to redeem them. Why is it so remarkable that they trusted Him to provide food in the desert?

The answer appears to lie in understanding the depth of their faith. Trusting Hashem to such an extent — to enter a barren, hostile wilderness without provisions — runs counter to basic human instinct. Even after witnessing miracles, human nature compels us to secure our future and protect ourselves from hunger and uncertainty. Theological faith in the abstract is one thing; faith that overrides instinct and fear is something else entirely. The Jewish people’s willingness to follow Hashem with no provisions reflects a level of trust that transcended human calculation.

Rabbi David Ashear relates a powerful contemporary illustration in his book Living Emunah on Parnassah (p. 200). He tells of a man whose business empire was collapsing. Desperate, the man tried every segulah (a charm or practice to bring good fortune) he could find, traveling widely to seek blessings and advice. Nothing helped. Finally, a friend told him, “You are asking Hashem’s messengers to help you, but you have not yet learned to rely on Hashem Himself.” The friend urged him to study the Beis HaLevi’s book on faith. The man followed this advice, learned how to truly place his trust in Hashem, and, with Divine help, his business ultimately recovered.

The message applies at all times. Hashem desires that we turn directly to Him and recognize that He alone is the source of sustenance and salvation. When the Jewish people left Egypt with no provisions, they demonstrated complete faith and love for Hashem, earning eternal praise.

When we face hardship or uncertainty and the future feels dark, we should remember the lesson of the Exodus. Like our ancestors leaving Egypt, we can find strength by placing our trust fully in Hashem. When we do so, despair gives way to hope, and we gain the confidence that redemption — personal or national — is always possible.