נחמיה, פרק ט׳, פסוק ט׳

The journey from harsh slavery to redemption begins with precise divine providence over human suffering. When God looked upon the Israelites in Egypt, He was not simply observing events as they unfolded. His gaze represented a focused, deliberate attention aimed directly at their rescue [מצודת דוד]. The affliction they endured was a period of intense distress [ביאור שטיינזלץ] and brutal torture [מצודת ציון], as the Egyptians forced them into an unearned servitude. This profound suffering awakened God's ancient promise to ultimately judge the enslaving nation [חומת אנך]. Yet, this bitter era of slavery was not a random tragedy. It served as a necessary melting pot designed to refine the people, preparing them to inherit the land and making them worthy of experiencing open, miraculous intervention [מלבי״ם].

A clear chain of cause and effect connects these early moments of divine attention to the great miracles that followed. God taking notice of the Israelites' distress in Egypt directly resulted in the signs and wonders brought upon their oppressors. Similarly, hearing their desperate cry later on the shore of the sea [ביאור שטיינזלץ] is what ultimately led to the splitting of the waters [מלבי״ם].

There is an even deeper link between God witnessing their suffering in Egypt and hearing their cry at the sea. When the Israelites stood at the water's edge, they actually rebelled against God. From the perspective of strict justice, they deserved to drown. However, God had already struck the Egyptians with ten devastating plagues specifically for torturing the Israelites. If the people were to perish in the sea, it would desecrate God's name, leading others to claim that the Egyptians had been punished for the sake of a wicked nation. Therefore, as a direct continuation of recognizing their misery in Egypt, God listened to their cry at the sea and parted the waters. He did this to protect His name from desecration and to establish His reputation throughout the world [חומת אנך].