How can we understand the horrific experience of being in Egypt? Why did it have to happen?
Perhaps we could try to answer this question by looking closely at the text, specifically the times after leaving Egypt that G-d explains or justifies a commandment with the reminder, “you were slaves in Egypt.” Could it be that in those verses, the Torah is explaining why we had to be slaves?
There are 18 verses in the Torah that explicitly remind us that we were slaves in Egypt. They are each tied to at least one commandment! And if we look at only these verses, the ones that say because you were slaves in Egypt we can see a progression of ideas. They are as follows:
Gratitude to G-d: Basic gratitude is expressed through bringing the first fruits, acknowledging that the source of our prosperity is not from ourselves, but from G-d. (Deut. 26: 8-10). We are commanded to always give credit where it is due. Because we were slaves in Egypt.
Empathy for slaves: Treat your slaves well, and free them with material goods, as G-d freed you. (Lev. 25:40, 54, Deut. 15:14) This is a direct and simple connection to being slaves ourselves.
Concern for the downtrodden: Be kind to those who are strangers, poor, orphans or widows, because you remember from being slaves in Egypt what it was like to be unwanted, powerless, unloved, and unprotected. (Deut. 16:12, 24:17, 21)
Reject all others: There is a sense that G-d does not demand an exclusive relationship until the Exodus, when G-d demands that we must not stray. It is why we must reject the gods of the peoples around us (Deut. 6:14) and the key elements of these pagan cultures (Ex. 13:3). The Exodus from slavery in Egypt advanced our connection to Hashem from us having a preferred familial or tribal G-d, to having an exclusive relationship with the Creator of the World.
Fidelity in Relationship: G-d freed us, and He expects – demands – a monogamous relationship. When one person helps another person out, then a bond is formed, one in which there is always a debt, a connection. We must never betray that relationship, or flirt with other gods. (Deut. 7:9, 6:14, 13:5-11)
But why is it so important to G-d that we have this relationship? Why is it so important that we both acknowledge Him, and refuse to follow other gods? Could the text be leading us to a much deeper and more challenging conclusion? G-d wants us to try to understand everyone – including Hashem?!
Imitating G-d. We are commanded to observe the Sabbath (Deut. 5:15) He wants His people to seek to copy him, to follow in His ways. If we seek to connect with Hashem, then we should seek to ACT like G-d. And so we are to keep Shabbos, as He did.
Being slaves made us more lovable: Because we were slaves, “I will establish My abode in your midst, and I will not spurn you. I will be ever present in your midst: I will be your God, and you shall be My people.” (Lev. 26:13)
We can now see the progression that the Torah is laying out for us: did we have to be slaves in Egypt because we had to grow? Is the Torah telling us that we had to learn to show gratitude, empathy for those less blessed, appreciation to G-d and exclusivity in that relationship? And then does the Torah go even beyond these high ideals, because G-d wants us to try to emulate Him, to try to see things from G-d’s perspective? To love each other as G-d loves us?!
We are even told to remember the death of the first-born:…You must redeem every male first-born among your children. And when, in time to come, a child of yours asks you, saying, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall reply, ‘It was with a mighty hand that G-d brought us out from Egypt.’
And what is the connection between the first-born and being in Egypt? Perhaps one of the reasons we are to always dedicate the first-born is because we are supposed to feel empathy for our enemies?! We do not celebrate the death of enemies, and certainly not innocent children or animals. So perhaps this commandment is to teach us to empathize even with those who oppose us? Now that is a challenge!
In sum: Were the people not ready to receive the Torah until they had experienced slavery in Egypt, the perspective that makes it possible for us to understand the point of view of other people, our enemies, and even G-d Himself? Was being in Egypt a stage of growth that was necessary to enter into a permanent covenant with G-d at Sinai?