נחמיה, פרק ט׳, פסוק י׳

God's dramatic intervention in Egypt, marked by plagues and miracles, was driven by a profound commitment to justice and a desire to make His presence known throughout the world. The plagues brought upon Pharaoh and his people served as a direct punishment for their severe cruelty. While ruling over the Israelites, the Egyptians acted with deep malice [רש"י, אבן עזרא]. Rather than simply employing the Israelites as hired workers, they subjected them to backbreaking slavery and actively sought their destruction [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

A natural question arises regarding this punishment: if God had already preordained the exile and enslavement in Egypt, why were the Egyptians held responsible? The answer lies in their intentions. God knew the hidden thoughts of their hearts. The Egyptians did not oppress the Israelites to fulfill a divine decree. Instead, they acted out of their own inherent wickedness, choosing to add unbearable pressure and torture through their own malicious schemes [מלבי"ם].

Beyond punishing the Egyptians, the miracles served a second major purpose. The awe-inspiring signs were designed to broadcast God's honor and greatness, ensuring that the entire world would come to recognize Him [רש"י, מלבי"ם]. This display of divine power established a reputation so profound and famous that the awareness of His actions remains clear and recognized to this very day [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].