By Rabbi Yaakov benYosef ABOUT Torah
Sometimes the environment we are living in becomes detrimental to our welfare. When this happens, HaShem lets us know that it is time for a change. In Sodom, the environment that Lot and his family lived in was detrimental to their welfare. To save Lot HaShem removed him and his family from Sodom. Lot and his family were given a new opportunity. Unfortunately, Lot and his family never capitalized on the opportunity, because they did not put the influences of Sodom behind. As a result, Lot and his family never became fully committed to serving HaShem.
HaShem is continually giving people new opportunities. It is HaShems desire that none perish. Therefore, with each new opportunity HaShem hopes people will realize how much He is needed in their lives. Mark 10:29 even implies that when we are committed to starting a new life that puts HaShems will first, we will receive one hundred fold for everything we have given up to serve Him. Even with a new opportunity, leaving our old life behind, and starting a new life serving HaShem is difficult. Sometimes we need to be convinced that starting a new life serving HaShem is more important than holding on to the past. When we are given the opportunity to start fresh we need to listen. In Bo we can see how the process of delivering Yisrael from Egyptian bondage, gave a mixed multitude of people the opportunity to start fresh and begin a new life serving HaShem.
Shemot 10:4-5 states "If thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast: And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field." HaShem makes it clear to Pharaoh that He intends to use locusts to devour all of the green and living plants of Egypt. The only plants left alive will be in the land of in Goshen. HaShem is making a clear distinction between Yisrael and Egypt. A mixed multitude of nations witnessed that HaShem protected the vegetation in Goshen; therefore it remained untouched by the locusts. It was clear to that HaShem separated His people from the destruction that affected the Egyptians.
Shemot 10:22-23 states "Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." Once again HaShem separated the land of Goshen from the land of Egypt. The darkness that overcame Egypt was so intense that neighbor was not able to see neighbor. As a result, the plague of darkness disoriented the Egyptians. Therefore, the Egyptians were no longer able to function in their spiritual or secular lives. In the land of Goshen the opposite was true. The children of Yisrael were not disoriented or affected by the chaos that the darkness brought. The Yisraelites continued living as if nothing happened. The light of HaShem illuminated the land of Goshen. Therefore, a mixed multitude of people witnessed how HaShem provided light for His people and caused the Egyptians to stumble in the darkness.
Shemot 12:23 states "For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you." Anyone who was willing to obey HaShem, by covering his or her lintels and doorposts with the blood of the Passover lamb, was protecting their firstborn from death. The mixed multitude witnessed that obedience to HaShem brought life, while disobedience to HaShem brought death. Therefore, the plague of death became a witness that demonstrated to the mixed multitude that HaShem had authority over life and death.
HaShems desire is to bring salvation to all nations that want to serve Him. In Egypt HaShem set apart the Children of Yisrael, as a witness to the mixed multitude living under the Pharaohs rule. Therefore, HaShems deliverance of the Children of Yisrael encouraged other nations to turn to HaShem. As a result, a mixed multitude of individuals living in Egypt were willing to leave Egypt and start a new life serving HaShem. Shemot 12:37-38 states "the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle."HaShems display of protection and separation of the Yisraelites, became a witness to any individual whose heart was open and willing to serve HaShem. As a result, a mixed multitude was delivered from Egypt with Yisrael. Therefore, the mixed multitude became partakers of the same blessings that HaShem had promised to Avrahams descendants.
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