Finding Divine Order Within the Chaos of the Exodus

Much has been said about the origin of the name given to the unique evening of the seder night, the Night of Order. However, it seems difficult to understand how the word “order” fits with what appeared to be chaos during the Exodus from Egypt. On that night, every firstborn of Egypt died, cries rose to the heavens, and amid the confusion Pharaoh, the absolute ruler of the Egyptian empire, ran through the streets in his nightclothes searching for Moshe and Aharon, begging them to end the plague and send the children of Israel out of Egypt. Where, then, is the order within the Night of Order?

Pesach as a Festival of Kindness, Unity, and Faith

Our sages taught that the three Patriarchs Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov correspond to the three pilgrimage festivals. Avraham, who represents kindness and love, is connected to Pesach. Avraham Avinu teaches us that giving and helping others heals brokenness and unites hearts. The message of unity and generosity is woven into the essence of the holiday itself.

Another foundational element from Avraham Avinu that relates to Pesach is the principle of faith. Even as a child, Avraham discovered his Creator. Our sages describe how he came to this realization by contemplating the remarkable order of creation. He observed the rising sun, the shining moon, and the countless stars, as well as rivers and the living creatures within them. Through reflection, he recognized the laws governing the world and understood that if there is law, there must be a Lawgiver.

Seeing the Creator Through Creation

Avraham also contemplated the human body and saw the harmony within it. The eyes that see, the ears that hear, the process of digestion, and the remarkable order of the circulatory system all revealed a higher design. Every limb is placed exactly where it functions best. From this understanding, Avraham realized that a higher power created and sustains everything. King David expressed this in Tehillim when he said, When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars that You established, Hashem our Master, how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth, and also, From my own flesh I perceive God. Through observing creation and the human body, a person can come to faith.

The Message Hidden Within the Seder

It is therefore no coincidence that our sages called this night Leil HaSeder. The structured order of the Seder carries a message. Look deeply and learn from Avraham your forefather. Just as he awakened to faith by contemplating the order of creation, so too his descendants can awaken to faith through an honest and clear perspective, free from the distractions and desires of this world. Every mountain, every animal, and every blade of grass proclaims the Creator’s name and teaches us faith.

On the night of the Seder, when all the gates of heaven are open, as explained in the Zohar, a person is given the tools to rise above the smallness and routine of daily life. It is an opportunity to climb the spiritual ladder that has existed since the six days of Creation and draw closer to the Creator.