This week we begin reading the book of Shemos, which details the slavery of the Jewish Nation in Eygpt and their eventual redemption. The Torah relates that when Moshe was sent down to Egypt by Hashem to free the nation. He was met with an ironclad refusal from Pharaoh. Although Hashem told Moshe that that time had arrived for the redemption of the Jewish Nation, He also told Moshe that Pharaoh would not concede right away to releasing the Jewish People. Moshe was not expecting though that his initial attempt in demanding the release of the Jewish People would not only be refused but that Pharaoh would react by making the conditions of the bondage even worse for the Jewish People. Hashem reasurred Moshe that this was "part of the plan". The Kil Yakar explains that this is a phenomenon that exists in the natural world and in the spiritual world as well. Before the  "salvation" is realized the situation gets worse. Many times we proceed to make a change for the better and improve ourselves or our situation but we get discouraged because our initial steps are met with a setback. We should nevertheless continue on the proper path and in time we will persevere.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath