Why Did the Israelites Yearn for Egypt? Insights You Might Not Know

The journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the land of Israel is one of the most central stories of the Exodus. Throughout their time in the desert, the Israelites faced trials and hardships. Surprisingly, whenever they encountered difficulty, they yearned to go back to Egypt. But why would they want to return to slavery? How could they forget the suffering they endured there?

This question comes up repeatedly in the story of the Exodus. It seems like every time things got a little difficult, the Israelites immediately wanted to go back to Egypt. The question becomes even more perplexing. How, after witnessing all the miracles—the ten plagues, the splitting of the sea, manna from heaven, receiving the Torah—could they struggle to believe in Hashem? It would seem that after seeing how Hashem governs the world visibly and tangibly, they would have strong faith, remain steadfast, and trust in Hashem despite the challenges.

To understand the Israelites, we need to grasp the situation they faced during their long journey through the desert. Throughout the desert journey, the Israelites didn't need to worry about themselves; all their needs were provided by Hashem—their clothes didn't wear out, their food came from the skies, and water flowed from the rock. Ostensibly, it's a perfect situation. They were free from worldly concerns and could devote themselves to Torah and spirituality all day. However, it was also highly uncertain. Just as bread descended from the heavens, it could stop at any moment. People tend to focus on physical needs, which gives them a sense of security, believing they'll have food and drink no matter what. But the Israelites in the desert couldn't rely on physical labor; they wandered the desert with no guaranteed security other than faith in Hashem. None of them knew if tomorrow they would still merit receiving manna. This spiritual work was incredibly challenging. So, it's understandable that when the Israelites saw that water was no longer flowing from the rock, they feared they were no longer worthy of the elevated state they had reached. They remembered Egypt—life there was hard, but they had certainty and the ability to handle their physical needs. They preferred a lower level with certainty to a higher one accompanied by trials.

This also sheds light on the sin of Moses and Aaron. Rashi tells us that initially, Moses struck the rock and a trickle of water emerged, prompting Moses and Aaron to strike it again for more water to gush out. Yet, the water didn't come from the staff hitting the rock but from Hashem's command. When Moses and Aaron struck the rock again, they treated the action as a button pressed to release water, rather than acknowledging it as a divine miracle. Therefore, Hashem said to them, "Because you did not believe in me, sanctifying me in the sight of the Israelites." Moses and Aaron acted as though the physical act of striking the rock, not the divine command, produced water. Again, instead of seeing the physical act as dependent on Hashem, it appeared to rely on earthly processes. As a result, the sanctification of Hashem’s name that could have occurred did not.

Later in the story, the Israelites once again complained about a lack of water and desired a return to Egypt. To achieve a spiritual level, one needs spiritual abilities. It's neither easy nor enjoyable as it might sound. Finally, the Israelites faced a harsher punishment when Hashem sent poisonous snakes among them.

Even at their high spiritual level, it was not easy for the Israelites to give up their physical habits, their connection to reality and worldly cause-and-effect. Perhaps we understand them a bit better now.