ישעיהו, פרק נ״ד, פסוק ז׳

The relationship between God and His people goes through periods of distance and deep crisis. Yet, from a broader perspective, times of exile and suffering shrink entirely when compared to the ultimate redemption. The abandonment experienced by the nation is not an expression of absolute rejection or disgust. Rather, it is a temporary state where God simply hides His face [מלבי״ם]. This creates a sharp contrast between a fleeting sense of being forsaken and an eternal, powerful love that will eventually reunite the people.

The primary approach among commentators is that the short duration of this distance does not describe the actual, historical length of the exile, which lasted for many years. Instead, it captures how that period will be remembered in the future. When weighed against the immense goodness and mercy that will be given to the Israelites in the Messianic era, the long years of exile will feel like nothing more than the blink of an eye [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, צאינה וראינה]. Furthermore, from God's infinite perspective, even a lengthy exile is considered just a fleeting moment [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Another perspective shifts the focus away from the passage of time, suggesting instead that a brief moment of anger was the actual cause of the separation. In this view, God acted out of a sudden, passing flash of wrath, creating distance because of a momentary surge of displeasure [שד״ל]. Some connect this specific fraction of time to the exact moment of divine anger when Balaam attempted to curse the Israelites [אהבת יהונתן].

To repair this fracture, a profound correction is required. A nation that has been left alone and scattered across the world needs an extraordinary amount of compassion to be brought back together. This future gathering is driven by mercies that are not only immense in their power but will also endure continuously. This permanent, ongoing compassion stands in complete opposition to that single, short moment of anger and hiddenness [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].