Hope is born when we can envision change, when we can daven for it
The Gemara says that the word “b’farech — backbreaking work,” contains the words “peh rach — soft mouth.” The Mitzrim drew Bnei Yisrael into slavery slowly, by speaking softly — until they’d ensnared them completely. But why? Why not just make an edict to enslave them all at once?
Pharaoh wasn’t worried about Bnei Yisrael revolting. Yet by enslaving them gradually, he created a mindset in which they forgot that things had ever been different.
When a person is enmeshed in a difficult situation slowly, he loses sight of the way things used to be — and he doesn’t daven for things to change. This negative situation has become his norm. That’s why no one ever escaped from Mitzrayim: Bnei Yisrael no longer remembered they used to be free, so they felt no need to escape.
That was Pharoah’s goal. He wanted to sever the Jews’ hope, so that they wouldn’t daven for redemption. Tefillah only works if one believes what he’s davening for is possible. (Rav Aaron Lopiansky, based on Sefer Bais Yaakov)
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