Forged in the Furnace: Why the Exodus Began with Suffering

“And these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt” (Exodus 1:1).

In this portion and those that follow, the descent of the people of Israel into Egypt is described. There they endure terrible suffering until the time of their redemption arrives.

What is the purpose of this descent into Egypt? Why must an entire nation go into exile in a foreign land and be subjected to harsh slavery?

The answer lies in the verse: “The Lord has chosen you to be His treasured people from all the nations upon the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2).

The Furnace That Formed a Nation

In order to merit becoming the chosen nation and receiving the Torah, Israel needed to undergo intense and demanding “training.” Egypt served as an iron furnace, refining them and making them strong and resilient, preparing them for the giving of the Torah and for the many trials they would face throughout history.

“The Torah was given only to those who left Egypt” (Mechilta, Beshalach 17), because they had passed through this refining process and thereby gained the strength needed to receive the Torah with joy and ease.

Those who rose before dawn each day and returned home only at night after exhausting labor would later find it far easier to rise early for prayer, to put on tefillin and tallit, and to serve God with dedication.

Those who had bowed under the weight of cruel taskmasters would later bend willingly and joyfully before the King of Kings, prepared even to give their lives for His Torah and commandments, serving Him in every situation, in fire and in water.

This is hinted at in the verse: “Therefore the maidens love You” (Song of Songs 1:3), which the sages interpret as “even unto death.” The love of the people of Israel for God is so deep that they are prepared to give their very lives to fulfill His will.

A Parable: The Cossack Soldiers of Tsar Nicholas

Such total devotion, even unto death, may seem beyond human comprehension. Yet history has seen moments when people showed such loyalty that they were willing to do anything, even die, to fulfill the will of their ruler.

Tsar Nicholas of Russia was one such figure.

He was a powerful and feared ruler. His name alone inspired dread among his subjects. He commanded a vast army made up of many divisions, each led by its own commander. Yet one elite unit remained under his direct command: the Cossack corps.

Not just anyone could join this unit.

If a mother wanted her infant son to one day serve the Tsar, she needed to bring him before the ruler at just one month old. The Tsar did not accept the child based only on this act of devotion. The infant had to pass a test.

The Tsar would examine the baby, pinch his cheek, and slap his face. Then came tense moments. If the infant stopped crying quickly, he passed to the next stage. If he continued crying, he was dismissed as unfit, despite the mother’s pleas.

The second stage began at age three, when the child underwent difficult training like an adult. By age ten, he became a full fledged soldier.

Each year, the Tsar held inspections in which soldiers were required to demonstrate extraordinary acts of loyalty and courage.

At times, he would command a soldier to stop breathing for several minutes. The soldier would obey until collapsing lifeless. The crowd would applaud his devotion.

At other times, he would order a soldier to stand in fire. The soldier would thank him for the honor and leap into the flames.

Sometimes the tests were less extreme. A soldier might be ordered to endure lashes. Even if the punishment was intentionally reduced, the soldier would protest, insisting on receiving the full command.

If a soldier was dismissed from service, he would return home broken and weeping, feeling rejected and unworthy.

The Chosen Nation of God

This Cossack unit serves as a parable for the service of the people of Israel before the King of Kings.

God has many nations in the world, yet He chose the Jewish people and assigned them a unique mission to serve as His personal “unit,” under His direct command.

Such a role requires intense preparation. Throughout history, the Jewish people have undergone such preparation through difficult trials: inquisitions, crusades, pogroms, and the horrors of the Holocaust. Yet they remained strong, knowing they are soldiers of the Creator.

The Jewish people do not bow before any nation. We are Jews, and we remain Jews with dignity and strength.

This is the nature of a people willing to give their lives for the Torah.